Rangers went into the transfer window knowing that there were areas where they needed to strengthen and give Philippe Clement a helping hand in the title race.
The Gers boss moved quickly before the window was even open when Fabio Silva was announced but it seemed like an age before another couple of faces were added to the squad.
Against Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday, Rangers fans could also see Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes and, despite the clamour for another striker, they are right to be happy with the window’s work.
First Rangers transfer window under Philippe Clement verdict
January is a notoriously difficult month to sign players.
Clubs don’t want to let good ones go half-way through the season and those that are available are usually deemed surplus to requirements.
Then there is the other issue that Rangers have under Philippe Clement – the injury list.
Injured players still need to be paid.
They are still on the wage bill.
The budget isn’t just something that is nice to adhere to.
Remember, only a couple of years ago, Rangers posted a loss of around £25m.
That has a long-lasting effect.
The damage was done in the summer under Michael Beale.
Cyriel Dessers has started to produce consistently but, until he scores against Celtic, there will continue to be that doubt.
His performance and goal against Real Betis has to become the norm.
But, it was the £3m spent on Sam Lammers with Tom Lawrence, Todd Cantwell, Ianis Hagi and even Alex Lowry in the squad that was a monumental waste of money.
How it was signed off remains a mystery, and that’s ignoring the player’s form in the seasons before he arrived in Glasgow.
All Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen could do for Rangers in this window was try to repair the damage as best they could.
The forward line needed more depth and quality, and that’s what has been provided.
The manager has done a good job with the tools at his disposal, and now he has a few more that are sharper and a better fit for the task at hand – winning the Scottish Premiership title.
