The transfer window isn’t even open yet and already the nerves are palpable amongst the Rangers support.
If you want an idea of just how much is riding on this transfer window – a period which Philippe Clement himself has suggested will be challenging – you need only look online.
On social media, in group chats, in bars and online forums up and down the country there is only one subject on the minds of Rangers fans.
And so far a lack of action is already making us restless.
Nils Koppen is out in Mexico this week shaking hands and networking as he looks to strike positive relationships which will lead to deals being signed off.
But even with things largely watertight around Rangers, the latest transfer links both in and out of the club are only serving to ramp up the pressure.
Five quit Rangers with more to follow
As far as outgoings go, it’s been a big week at Rangers.
Over the weekend the club announced the departures of five first-team players with almost 750 appearances between them.
Whilst Rangers stand to save somewhere around £4.3m in wages per annum, it comes at the cost of experience for Philippe Clement.
Out have gone Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe to tear some sizeable holes in the squad.
Lundstram alone played 53 times last season.
Following them could be leadership duo James Tavernier and Connor Goldson who have been the subject of some somewhat dubious links to Saudi Arabia this week.
Nonetheless, the claims have sparked a debate surrounding the pair and it probably won’t end until we’re back at pre-season or players start coming into the club.
There are also the situations of both Rangers goalkeepers Jack Butland and Robby McCrorie.
McCrorie is pushing for a transfer with the likes of Aberdeen linked as he looks for first-team football whilst Butland is reportedly ‘sure’ to be the subject of Premier League interest.
Finally, there are the situations of loan striker Fabio Silva, who has announced his departure on social media, and that of Dutch forward Sam Lammers.
Lammers will be leaving Ibrox this summer but as things stand the Utrecht loanee is yet to negotiate an exit.
Rangers transfer update on 10 potential incomings
That moves us on nicely to incomings and for the time being there remains a number of names being linked to Rangers.
From back to front, Motherwell goalie and ex-Rangers Academy star Liam Kelly has been strongly linked.
As per the situations with Robby McCrorie and Jack Butland, any Rangers interest will depend on what happens in the position this summer.
In defence Rangers obviously withdrew their interest in Jose Cordoba with reports in Bulgaria referring to complications with how a deal would be structured.
Left-sided Chileno defender Thomas Galdames – who expects to leave Argentine club Godoy Cruz this month – has been strongly linked instead.
There are also fresh reports linking Rangers with a move for West Ham defender Ben Johnson ahead of the new season.
It is said the Ibrox side face strong competition from Championship outfit Leeds United.
Arsenal talent Reuell Walters is another who has been mentioned but it’s believed that whilst the club like the player, he is not a transfer priority this summer.
In midfield, Rangers have been routinely linked to South African wonderkid Relebohile Mofokeng.
After the talented youngster, who can also play on either wing, scored the winner in South Africa’s national cup final the hype has only been building.
Now in the Bafana Bafana squad for the first time, the national side’s manager has warned the youngster off a move to Europe too soon.
Another midfielder being linked to Rangers is Uruguayan U20 World Cup winner Damian Garcia.
With Rangers having an increased presence in Latin America, the Peñarol star is out of contract in December and is reportedly an Ibrox target.
To add extra spice to the mix, the president of Peñarol is also in attendance at the TransferRoom summit in Cancun alongside Nils Koppen.
It’s worth noting that Romanian midfielder Ianis Hagi, who spent the season on loan at Alaves before joining up with his country for Euro 2024, is also set to rejoin the club.
In the final third, Rangers have already confirmed the loan with obligation-to-buy signing of RC Lens loanee Oscar Cortes.
The situation with fellow loanee Abdallah Sima is less clear however, with Brighton’s managerial uncertainty complicating matters.
As the club look to add more firepower to their ranks, there has been an update around Kosovan striker Albion Rrahmani.
According to the latest news in Romania, Rapid Bucharest and Neil Lennon have begun to accept their fate with regards the 19-goal forward.
On top of Cortes, the only other signing Rangers have announced so far this pre-season is that of Brazilian left-back Jefte.
Veteran defender Leon Balogun has also been handed a one-year contract extension.
