YORK City aim to recruit four more players after making Blyth Spartans top-scorer Dan Maguire their second summer signing.

Maguire, who plundered 25 goals in all competitions last season, has followed fellow former Spartan Kieran Green to Bootham Crescent, with manager Steve Watson now in advanced talks with a goalkeeper, centre-back, utility player and attacking midfielder.

Only Spennymoor striker Glenn Taylor has netted more National League North goals than the 35 Maguire has struck over the last two seasons.

The former England C international will also be turning professional for the first-ever time with City, giving up his day job as a plumber at the end of this month, although the length of his playing contract has not been disclosed.

Maguire, 26, has been a long-time target for Minstermen chief Steve Watson, who added: “Lots of other teams wanted him and it was also a big decision for Dan to go full-time, but I got the impression that he was very impressed with the club and, even though other teams were bending over backwards for him as well, we had to let him make his mind up, so it was a long process.

“Things couldn’t be rushed because it was a big decision for the lad to give up his job. It’s worked well for him playing at this level and working but he’s now ready to take the plunge, because you don’t want to get to 35 wondering what might have been if you’d given full-time football a go.”

On his next transfer-market moves, Watson revealed: “We’re still in talks with four players – a centre-half who is a leader, a goalkeeper, an attacking midfielder and somebody who can play in a number of positions.

“We’ve got 16 senior professionals signed and, if we can start the season with 20, I’ll be happy with that. I’m pretty hopeful we can get there but, like Dan, these other lads have options.

“I think I read somebody saying “finally” after Dan’s signing, but we’re looking to recruit quality. If you’re not looking to do that, then you could easily fill your squad as soon as the season finishes.”

Watson also believes that Maguire will prove an ideal fit for the other forwards on City’s books, reasoning: “I feel there are two or three stand-out strikers in the league.

“Taylor at Spennymoor would be one, but Dan’s another and we thought he would work well with what we have got. Jordan (Burrow) is more of a central striker, Macaulay (Langstaff) can come in from wide positions and play in a three, whilst Alex Kempster is very powerful and is getting better and better.

“We’re also hoping Jake (Wright) will have a good pre-season and Wes (York) is a threat. I know we can’t play them all, but I think we have a really good mix of strikers now.”

In Maguire and Green, Watson is certain, meanwhile, that he has managed to attract the two players who finished the campaign strongest at play-off qualifiers Blyth, who appointed his former Newcastle United team-mate Lee Clark as manager at the start of this month.

“Kieran’s signing might have had a big say in Dan’s interest in the club because they get on great,” Watson declared. “I think 95 per cent of the people who watched Blyth would say they were their best two players during the latter stages of the season, and we need them to perform like that again for us.”