SEAN Dyche has told Joey Barton he can have as long as he needs to decide on his future as the midfielder remains in talks with Scottish side Rangers.

The 33-year-old was in Glasgow on Saturday to look around Rangers’ Murray Park training ground, and he has been offered a two-year deal by the Ibrox side.

Two weeks ago Barton said he was keen to stay at Turf Moor, but wanted more than the one-year deal that was on the table from Burnley at the time.

"We'll give him as long as he needs,” Dyche said on Goals on Sunday. “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'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.”

Dyche insisted Barton knew where he stood with the Clarets with regards to an offer of a new contract, and was within his rights to discuss a move elsewhere.

"He knows where we stand on it, we do actually speak to these people,” added the Clarets chief.

"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.”

Rangers’ head of recruitment Frank McParland was the man who bought Barton to Burnley last summer when he was the sporting director at Turf Moor.

The Glasgow giants are back in the Scottish Premier League next season and Dyche believes their interest in Barton shows they are trying to compete in 2016-17.

“Fair play to Rangers, it shows the clout they have, because if they're talking to him, he's not cheap,” Dyche added.

“It shows their intentions if they see it as viable, they must be backed well.”