With Rangers’ new Manager Derek McInnes now in place and ready to begin work in the new gig, Ibrox fans are allowed to get a bit excited.
After the new boss alluded to some ‘new players’ in this window, tongues are wagging as to who the heavy hitters coming into Govan under the new boss will be.
Ibrox Noise takes you through some of the key names linked with a big move to Ibrox under Del.
Claudio Braga:
Keen to link his old Portuguese star up again with new Rangers signing Lawrence Shankland, McInnes is very interested in potentially making a bid for the 26-year-old. With 23 goals and assists in 44, he was Player of the Season for a reason in Scotland, and McInnes would like him at Ibrox.
He will not come cheap. Hearts have slapped £8M-£10M on him, but of course, concessions and deals can be done. One thing is for sure, those two would be fire up front together at Ibrox.
Lewis Ferguson:
This would be the statement signing. Rangers stupidly missed out on even bidding for the former Auchenhowie graduate at the Dons. He’s bloomed into a £20M+ Serie A star. The McInnes connection could help a lot here, along with the fact the boy is a Rangers lad through and through. It would be a stunner to have another colossal Ferguson in midfield. Just like old times. Tough one to make it happen through.
Billy Gilmour:
Another one Rangers fans would love to have back in Govan. Gilmour has a big pricetag on his head as well, but of course missed the world cup through a shocker of an injury in a friendly. We don’t know how long he’s said to be missing for. But he’s one that if Napoli were willing to entertain his departure, and he wanted it too, something could be done here.
Elijah Just:
After an excellent world cup debut, the Kiwi’s value, already around £3M, soared to close to double that. He had a weird season. Superb in the regular league season, but didn’t score or assist in any other competition, including the Split. But he’s a wanted man and Rangers would like to put him on the right wing.
Luke Graham:
We will assume Del is as interested in this lad. It had previously been the case, because Rangers badly need new defenders. The Dundee CB had a breakout season for the Dee and McInnes very much needs that quality in his rearguard. Ignore the b*ll*cks from TeamTalk about Graham, no bid is yet being prepared, because Ibrox is going through a reset. But we do hope one happens.
Elliot Watt:
Another Scottish player that Rangers have been looking at, McInnes isn’t known to be a huge admirer of Watt but that doesn’t mean he isn’t. The Motherwell midfielder is a tidy operator and a big Rangers man himself, and that ticks a lot of boxes. We shall see if Del is interested.
Cammy Devlin:
Another of McInnes’ old charges at Hearts, the Aussie international got his call to the world cup but did not feature v Turkey. He was a major operator in Hearts’ success last campaign and would be a free agent addition. McInnes is a known fan of this boy. He may try to persuade him to come to Govan after the world cup.
And that’s about enough for now.
This lot would help to give Rangers some of the spine the club has lacked for far too long.