Mood in the Rangers camp rose with Cyriel Dessers neat finish against Dynamo Kyiv providing a distraction to the current transfer hiatus.
Philippe Clement has declared that players need to move on but eight players have put pen to paper this summer already, it’s easy to see why space has to be made.
Departures from the squad are expected in Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell with others like Scott Wright and Ben Davies unlikely to be held onto if bids arrive on Nils Koppen’s desk.
Scott McKenna wage demands show Rangers position
Davies’ presence in particular appears to be blocking any attempts to upgrade the middle of defence with news of a potential replacement deciding his future.
According to Heart and Hand, it is easy to see why free agent Scott McKenna wasn’t signed despite widely reported interest from Rangers in the Scotland international.
Posting on X, David Edgar reported that a wage of £30-35,000 per week was said to be the demands of McKenna’s representatives.
Las Palmas might not be big spenders, however, after signing fellow Gers-linked Scot Oli McBurnie, their La Liga status ensures that they can afford decent wages.
As a replacement for Davies, Rangers probably would have gone to the lower end of that wage scale without a transfer fee to pay, but there is a clear and concerted attempt to reset the culture of waste at the club.
Speaking after the draw with Dynamo, the manager made it clear how important Champions League qualification is for his squad building:
‘Of course, it’s a big world of difference,’ said the Belgian.
‘It could really vary what you’re trying to do at the end of the window. That’s why you need to be prepared for the two scenarios.
‘Also, in your talks with players, it’s really clear that in some cases it’s only possible when you get Champions League money.
‘It’s four really important games that you need to win or to qualify, so it’s a big road.
‘So let’s focus now on the first leg and to get a good result towards the second leg.
‘That’s what we need to do now and not to look at where we are in September. It’s now the beginning of August. We need to get the best out of the situation now. That’s very important.’
Rangers reset was needed despite squad rebuild frustration
With guaranteed Europa League football, Rangers budget will be based on the worst case scenario.
Even if Clement does steer his side to the Champions League, he won’t be given a blank cheque but what it would do is allow players to be sold slightly below their market value to get them off the books.
The squad isn’t going to be made bigger in the short-term just because there is a bit more money available.
The Gers boss has his hands tied in more ways than one with McKenna’s move and reported wage, the latest example of what he is up against as he looks to bring sustained success back to Ibrox.
