Rangers remain active in the summer transfer market but are still relying on several of the club’s top-earners being moved on in this window.
Philippe Clement had already been backed to the tune of £11.5m from chairman John Bennett before the signing of Dutch defender Robin Pröpper over the weekend.
The move for the 30-year-old FC Twente captain has been well received with the transfer irking his former employees due to Rangers activating a cut-price £1.5m release clause.
Whilst Pröpper missed the weekend’s goalless draw with Hearts, fans can expect to see the centre-back in the squad for the Champions League trip to Poland to face Dynamo Kiev.
The defender joins Jefte (Fluminense), Clinton Nsiala (AC Milan), Connor Barron (Aberdeen), Liam Kelly (Motherwell), Mohamed Diomande (FC Nordsjælland), Oscar Cortes (RC Lens), Hamza Igamane (FAR Rabat) and Vaclav Cerny (loan, Wolfsburg) in signing a deal at Ibrox this summer.
But with £13m already stumped up Rangers are waiting on several of the club’s wantaway stars to navigate their exits in order to help boost moves for other targets.
Rangers wait on additional four exits
Rangers have already lost substantial experience in the squad as the club goes through an intense period of restructuring on and off the field.
Rangers’ performance post-55 has raised serious eyebrows about the leadership of the club with a lack of future planning patently obvious.
The situation has also bought Philippe Clement some sympathy from the Ibrox boardroom.
The Gers hierarchy firmly believe in the Belgian manager with a one-year extension to Clement’s contract a symbolic gesture ahead of the campaign kicking off.
Rangers kicked off a huge 12 month revamp with the loss of key players such as Allan McGregor, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Filip Helander last summer, even before Clement took the job at Ibrox.
This summer those three names from the Gerrard-era have been joined by influential players such as John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin.
With Connor Goldson also moving to Aris, Rangers have a sizeable gap in terms of quality, experience and leadership in their squad.
But the Ibrox cull is not expected to end here.
Sam Lammers has already departed for FC Twente in the Netherlands, who could meet Rangers in the Champions League Playoff.
Jose Cifuentes is closing in on a move to Greece and will depart Rangers initially on loan.
Rangers are also working hard to shift ego-centric duo Todd Cantwell and Ianis Hagi, the pair of whom are actively trying to find a move out of Ibrox.
Hagi has been strongly linked with £2.1m return to Fiorentina whilst Cantwell’s much-publicised attitude problems appear to be turning clubs off an approach.
Rangers captain James Tavernier has reiterated his commitment to the cause in Glasgow but remains on the radar of several clubs around Europe and the Middle East.
Two areas an Ibrox transfer priority
Rangers are actively trying to strengthen the squad in a number of areas but two positions in particular are of paramount importance to Philippe Clement.
After the Rangers manager once again lamented the loss of John Lundstram following the draw with Hearts, midfield is known to be a key area of concern.
Rangers have been linked to a number of experienced midfield players in recent weeks but to date have been unable to manufacture a move.
Norwich City bluenose Kenny McLean ruled himself out of a switch to Ibrox after weeks of rumours.
Rangers also eventually pulled out of a deal for Spanish midfielder Joan Jordan, who is surplus to requirements at Sevilla.
There have also been conflicting reports surrounding Rangers interest in Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel, who is a free agent following his release from cash-strapped Vitesse Arnhem.
It is an area of sizeable concern and Rangers are looking for the right combination of experience, technical quality and reliable fitness to take a figurehead number 6 role in Clement’s team.
Rangers also remain in the hunt for a matchwinning attacker who can play across the front three.
Senegalese striker Abdallah Sima has spent pre-season Brighton under the gaze of new Seagulls manager Fabian Hürzeler.
Whilst Rangers would like to sign Sima permanently after an impressive season on loan at Ibrox, as things stand the Gers cannot match Brighton’s financial demands for the forward.
Rangers also retain an interest in Morgan Whittaker, the Plymouth Argyle forward having been the subject of bids under Michael Beale in January 2022.
It is believed the 20-goal attacker wants the move to Ibrox but the Pilgrims’ stiff £10m asking price is a sticking point in negotiations.
With Rangers also having a bid for Porto winger Gonçalo Borges turned down at the end of July, it’s a clear area the Ibrox recruitment team are targeting.
Rangers are willing to pay to sign an effective attacking option who can play off either flank and contribute a high number of goals and assists.
Financing such a move could depend on recouping fees and wages on those aforementioned players who continue to clog up the Ibrox squad.
