As well as bringing in new faces into Rangers, one of Nils Koppen’s biggest task will be getting various players off the wage bill and out the door.
The treatment room at Auchenhowie is one of the busiest in the building with only Jack Butland going through the season with a completely clean bill of health.
Philippe Clement grew increasingly frustrated last season having to deal with a lengthy injury list but it already looks like Rangers are attempting to clear the decks of those who are paid a lot and offer little.
Rangers walking wounded linked with moves away
Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe and Borna Barisic have been released, taking with them their respective, lengthy medical files.
This week has seen two more names added to the list of potential departures which would bring in much needed additional funds for the manager and recruitment chief as they look to upgrade the squad.
Tom Lawrence started his Rangers career on fire, however, an innocuous knee injury suffered in injury time of a 4-0 win over Ross County robbed him of over a year of his time at Ibrox.
It’s not just time that he has lost.
The 30-year old looks slower than he did previously and has suffered a series of niggly muscle injuries too.
Premier League new boys Ipswich have been credited with an interest as have Besiktas where Giovanni van Bronckhorst is now in charge.
Last season finally saw Ridvan Yilmaz show what he can do but, when he was needed most, his body let him down.
When everyone was fit, Clement very rarely rotated his defence for the sake of it and will be looking for someone who he can rely on to be available every week.
Ridvan was close to the Rangers exit in January, however, Jefte couldn’t be crobarred out of APOEL and the diminutive Turk stayed put.
Besiktas – again with Gio eyeing a player he signed for Rangers – and Galatasaray have been linked with taking the 23-year old left-back home.
Koppen looks to start clear out with lightweight stars
There will be a few players who have been told that offers will be accepted with Kenny Miller’s lengthy roll call probably not far off.
Kieran Dowell is too well paid to sit in the stand, Connor Goldson has now had two serious injuries in the last two seasons and Rabbi Matondo’s goal contribution per 90 ratio betrays an availability that is as poor as anyone’s over the last two seasons.
Getting these players out the door to raise funds could well be Nils Koppen’s hardest task of the summer.
