Jackie McNamara is seeking more bargains like Charlie Telfer

Dundee United were forced to cough up over £200,000 for Charlie Telfer by an SFA tribunal but Jackie McNamara insists they have bagged themselves a bargain.

And the Tangerines gaffer revealed that if the chance to plunder another gem presents itself while the transfer window is open, they are willing to splash even more cash.

The Tangerines recorded a profit of £1.2 million for the last financial year and expect to report another this year, thanks to the bumper fees received for Andy Robertson and Ryan Gauld.

McNamara has already spent £50,000 tying up Arbroath striker Simon Murray in the January window, but he is keen to add more bodies for the Premiership run-in.

And the United boss says that if an opportunity to nab a player with serious potential arises, he is willing to speculate further hopefully with a view to accumulating.

He said: “If we see something, a bit like we did with Charlie, then we can do that. People say: ‘Look what they paid for him’, but for me it is a bargain.

“He was one of the best players in the Rangers academy and the boy is a talent. We ended up paying more to Queen’s Park for Andy Robertson after his move to Hull than to Rangers for Charlie, so it is a bargain.”

United beat off competition from the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts and city rivals Dundee to secure Simon Murray’s services within hours of the window opening.

And McNamara reckons the Tangerines’ growing reputation for transforming young players into wanted men has made them a tough team for youngsters to turn down.

“It helps having had the ones we’ve brought in before,” he explained.

“We play them. You can look at the younger ones as example. Look at Andrew Robertson. In one year 12 months he is in the Premiership

“You look at Andrew when he first came, his legs and everything about him. Then you look at him 12 months later, and he is an athlete. Now he is in the Premiership, so the proof is in the pudding.”

With young players, however, comes inconsistency and McNamara is the first to admit it.

Yet the United boss reckons his side’s recent inability to string wins together has less to do with inconsistency and more to do with a weak mentality.

That is something he admits requires attention if the Tangerines are to sustain their challenge at the top of the table.

He said: “Everybody mentions consistency or inconsistency but for me it’s a mentality thing. We have not been carved open. Mistakes have cost us. It’s just getting our shape, discipline and focus back again.

“We are not used to that demand and expectation. For me, it’s about being professional and getting back to what we are good at.”