Steven Gerrard has wasted little time in shaping his squad ahead of the new campaign following his appointment as the manager of Glasgow Rangers.
Gerrard, who took the job as the Ibrox supremo and almost immediately identified former Anfield team-mate Gary McAllister as his right-hand man, has landed new players since he accepted the role.
Graeme Murty was the man in the hotseat who made way for the arrival of Gerrard, who penned a four-year deal with the Glasgow giants. And the former England midfielder has been quick off the mark with his recruitment.
He has already acquired three new charges since his appointment in the shape of Burnley dynamo Scott Arfield and former Gers keeper keeper Allan McGregor — signed from Hull City after turning down a new deal with the Tigers.
He heads north of the border along with winger Jamie Murphy, who has arrived from Premier League side Brighton. Murphy’s move follows a loan spell at the club towards the end of last term (during which he scored five goals in 19 appearances).
Now it is being reported that Gerrard is once again eyeing the talent at the Amex Stadium, and in particular is keen to take central defender Connor Goldson, formerly of Shrewsbury Town.
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Gerrard will no doubt continue his recruitment drive in the expedient manner in which he has started, much to the delight of the Ibrox hordes. And as he does, former Rangers boss Mark Warburton has urged the club’s hierarchy to allow him time to build his empire.
Warburton, who was the manager of the Scottish Premier League outfit for two years from 2015, said: “The owners and the board will see that Steven’s global reach as a player will have a hugely positive impact on the club, hopefully attracting new sponsors and the like, as well as supporters. I’m hoping that’s one aspect of it.
“But there’s no doubt about the financial climate, they need to support Steven. I keep hearing figures of £20 million — you buy four players for two and a half and sit them on £25,000 a week and three-quarters of that is gone in a heartbeat.
“So, they’re going to need significant funds but I think also, equally as importantly, he needs to be given time. So, it really is a case of don’t expect them to come back straight back next season and smash Celtic because it’s just not going to happen. Celtic will respond, there’s no doubt about that.”
Meanwhile, Rangers say such is the demand for fans clamouring to see Gerrard’s new-look side, they have decided to cut the allocation of away supporters from a potential 7,000 to just 1,000. In reality this only has an impact on their bitter rivals from Parkhead. 1-0 to Gerrard already?