Defender search frustrates Dundee gaffer

[News Bot]

Paul Hartley admits his quest to add the final piece to his Dundee jigsaw this summer has left him frustrated.

With doubts over the fitness of club captain James McPake long term, the Dark Blues boss has been in the market for centre-back reinforcements.

But so far his search has proved fruitless, although, it has not been for the want of trying.

The gaffer has scoured the lists of released players from the SPFL and the English top divisions to no avail.

He has weighed up the options offered to him by agents from across the Continent but no player has landed on his desk suitably talented or reasonably priced enough, yet.

Revealing his frustrations, Paul said: “We are trying to add.

“We want another centre-half in but it is not that easy.

“We are obviously still looking in that area.

“The kind of player we want to add is hard to find.

“It is an area where we really need a player.

“There has been a load of names thrown at us. You know what it is like at this time of the year.

“We need to pick the right one. It is not easy to find that.

“They need to fit into the team but also into the wage structure.”

Meanwhile, Paul has praised his squad for coming back to the club in top condition ahead of the start of pre-season.

Dundee start their campaign tomorrow night at Dumbarton having only begun pre-season last Wednesday.

Paul says he is delighted with the way his players have kept fit.

“It is different these days. All the players come back fit after doing programmes through the summer,” he said.

“The condition of the players is excellent.

“They worked really hard and we had some good sessions.”

Elsewhere, English Championship side Reading have finally rubber-stamped the signing of former Dundee trialist Danzell Gravenberch.

The Dutchman, now 23 years of age, has penned a three-year deal at the Madejski Stadium.

Gravenberch spent a fortnight on trial at Dens Park in the summer of 2014 having been released by Eredivisie giants Ajax.

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