Rangers boss Derek McInnes dropped a clue on the next two arrivals at Ibrox, with a double prospective signing anticipated in the coming days.
Pre-season is now complete, and the serious business commences on Friday night at Tannadice.
Sunday’s scoreless draw with West Ham United provided the final warm-up for McInnes’ men, ahead of the Scottish Premiership opener.
Rangers put in a solid, if unspectacular performance against the recently relegated Hammers. There were positives and an improvement from the win over St. Etienne, but there is still a lack of conviction and guile in the final third of the pitch.
The manager acknowledged this, as he provided an update on signing plans.
Derek McInnes expects Rangers to secure imminent new signing
After McInnes’ comments in midweek about two signings for this weekend, there has been consternation and moans among the fans due to Vanja Dragojevic being the only arrival in recent days.
After West Ham, the manager intimated that one signing is particularly close, with another possibility ahead of Friday night in Dundee.
He was then asked if a forward would be one of the players – given Rangers’ issues with creating chances at present – and the response was revealing.
“I think we’re a bit short defensively in terms of numbers, said Derek McInnes.
“I think we have five senior defenders available. Ross McCrorie has just opened up his knee a wee bit, so we didn’t take any risks with him today.
“So we’re a bit short defensively because we’ve probably got four games in 12 days coming up, two league games and two cup games in Europe. So we’d look to address the numbers there, but also, you’re right to say (we need) those difference makers.
“I think a club like ours needs to have those guys that can isolate and go one on one, and can play off both sides naturally.
“So we are looking for a wee bit more creativity that we think can serve the strikers.”
Work in progress at Ibrox
That firmly suggests that a defender and a creative forward will be the next two arrivals at Ibrox, and they would become the eighth and ninth signings at the club this summer.
At least another couple are required on top of that.
Rangers need two central defenders, with one providing cover at left back, to keep the development lane open for Ashton Scally.
The squad is pretty stacked in the engine room, with departures required, even if there is still will they/won’t they speculation over Jens Hjerto-Dahl.
The priority is on the wings and the difference makers that Rangers are badly lacking. Two wide men are needed to give McInnes’ side a chance.
There is enough in attack with Youssef Chermiti, Lawrence Shankland, Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski, but they need support and service, in transition and generally, in the final third.
Until that happens, this Rangers team will be a work in progress.
