Sunday 15 May 2016 14:06, UK
Sean Dyche says Joey Barton does not come cheap as Rangers pursue the Burnley midfielder.
Barton, whose contract runs out in the summer, was at Rangers' Murray Park training ground on Saturday to discuss a move to Ibrox, according to Sky sources.
Although talks with the Championship winners have taken place, no agreement has been reached, though Dyche says Barton will take his time to look around and assess his options.
Speaking on Goals on Sunday, Dyche said: "Fair play to Rangers, it shows the clout they have, because if they're talking to him, he's not cheap. It shows their intentions if they see it as viable, they must be backed well.
"We've been open with our conversations with him, and his advisor, but he's still got his chance to look around and that's what players do nowadays. They're open-minded to what's out there.
"We'll give him as long as he needs. He took time to come to us last year, there were a couple of different things and he wanted to make sure it was the right place and environment.
"He knows where we stand on it, we do actually speak to these people."
Dyche, who is looking forward to a return to the Premier League having been relegated with Burnley last season, says Barton has been a terrific influence at the club, despite being warned that he would be difficult to deal with.
"He's got some deep thoughts on what he thinks is correct. I've worked with him, not against him, one of the first things people said was 'how are you going to handle him?'
"I've said all along, he's a man, not a boy, his contract runs out this summer, he knows our position on it and he's got his chance to look around and do what he needs to do.
"I've absolutely no problem with Joey, he's been terrific for me, terrific around the place, but he's a man and he's got his own future in his hands and he'll make a decision on that."
