Derek McInnes has confirmed that Rangers are poised to be active during the closing stages of this summer's transfer window, following a hard‑earned 1‑0 triumph over Aberdeen that finally delivered the club its first Scottish Premiership win of the campaign. The decisive moment came when Lawrence Shankland calmly converted a second‑half penalty at Pittodrie, a result that eased some of the mounting pressure on McInnes after a tumultuous week that saw Rangers eliminated from European competition by Jablonec.
Despite the relief that the win provided, the Rangers manager made it clear that the club’s work in the market is far from finished. He indicated that the board remains intent on bolstering the attacking line‑up and that the situation surrounding Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin is still unresolved. When asked whether further signings were likely, McInnes replied, “I think there will be.” He added that the team is still looking to replace the departing forward Youssef Chermiti, who suffered a serious injury a few weeks ago. “We have been working very hard to bring in an extra goal‑scorer up front,” McInnes explained.
“Hopefully we will have some good news on that before Wednesday.” The manager also addressed the speculation surrounding Raskin’s future. While he admitted that the midfielder could still depart, he stressed that no formal offer had yet been submitted for the player. “Nico might be one that moves on, but as I said yesterday, there were no bids in for Nico,” McInnes said.
He went on to describe the typical pattern of activity that characterises the final days of a transfer window, noting that “the last couple of days are when things really start to move.” McInnes expressed optimism that, once the window shuts, Rangers will be as strong as they can be, but he also acknowledged the uncertainty that pervades the dressing room during this period. “A lot of players don’t know whether they are coming or going yet, and that’s just the way it is for managers trying to navigate the end of the window.” Rangers’ lack of activity has drawn criticism from former player and Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd, who argued that the club has a glaring deficiency in midfield. Boyd contended that Rangers are missing a player capable of linking the centre of the park with the attacking line, describing Raskin as “the best midfielder by a country mile” and urging the club to secure his services if they have not already done so. He added, “They are still shy of someone who can connect the midfield and be creative.” Boyd also questioned the size of Rangers’ squad, suggesting that the club is carrying too many players and that some need to leave before any new arrivals are added.
“Rangers must have over 30 players; it’s not sustainable,” he said. “They need to get five, six, seven out at least before the window closes. There are other areas of the team that need strengthening besides the forward positions.” The match at Pittodrie highlighted some of the on‑field issues that have prompted calls for reinforcement. Although Rangers eventually broke the deadlock through Shankland’s spot‑kick, they struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout most of the game.
Their best chance before the penalty came from a swift counter‑attack in which Aboubakar Gassama surged forward, only for his teammate Kim’s effort to be blocked by Marius Müller, while Afeez Aremu raced back to clear the ball off the line. The lack of fluidity in the final third underscored the need for a more dynamic attacking option and a creative midfielder who can unlock defences. In summary, McInnes expects Rangers to be busy in the final days before the transfer deadline, with a particular focus on adding a proven goal‑scorer to replace the injured Chermiti and possibly securing a permanent deal for Nico Raskin.
Meanwhile, external voices like Kris Boyd are urging the club to address a broader midfield shortfall and to trim an oversized squad. As the window draws to a close, the Rangers faithful will be watching closely to see whether the club can finalize the necessary signings to strengthen the squad and bring clarity to the players uncertain about their future. The upcoming days promise to be decisive for the Glasgow side as they aim to solidify their roster ahead of the second half of the season.