OPINION
It has been a hugely satisfying transfer window so far for Rangers.
Fans have watched with delight as the club have recruited nine new players, six of them on permanent deals, as Steven Gerrard, Mark Allen and the board of directors overhaul the squad that finished miles off the pace last season.
Yesterday, midfielder Lassana Coulibaly and striker Umar Sadiq became the eighth and ninth players through the door at Ibrox this summer following Allan McGregor, Jon Flanagan, Scott Arfield, Jamie Murphy, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Ovie Ejaria.
But Gerrard’s business is far from done, as he made clear at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday ahead of the start of Rangers’ Europa League qualification programme.
The Liverpool icon explained, as quoted by the official Rangers Twitter account, that he is still looking for a “few” more new players as he looks to complete the jigsaw of his squad refurbishment.
????? SG: No number on new signings to arrive, we will be ready when we decide we have a squad to challenge domestically and in Europe. Good players come in and gel quick and that is what we are looking for as we try to get the right balance and talent this team needs.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 11, 2018
????? SG: We feel we have improved already but there are still a few pieces we are looking to complete.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 11, 2018
Gerrard also spoke of the support he had received from the board and the oft-criticised chairman Dave King.
????? SG: The board of Directors and the chairman have been very supportive and they have backed me so far.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 11, 2018
Unlike in previous windows, Rangers have actually spent fairly big on a number of the players, with Arfield made their top earner on £25,000-a-week, Goldson signed from Brighton for a fee of around £3million and seven-figure fees also spent on Murphy and Katic.
Moreover, the reliable Football Insider claim Rangers have firmed up their interest in Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper by tabling a £3million bid.
This is the kind of backing Rangers fans have been urging the board to provide ever since the club’s return to the Scottish Premiership.
Most supporters will absolutely love Gerrard’s confidently stated claim that he feels the club’s top brass are sticking to their promises and more signings are on their way.