Derek McInnes has made it clear that Rangers are gearing up for a flurry of activity as the summer transfer window draws to a close, following their hard‑earned first league victory of the campaign at Aberdeen. The win, a 1-0 success secured by Lawrence Shankland’s second‑half penalty at Pittodrie, lifted a considerable amount of pressure from the manager after a difficult period that included a disappointing exit from European competition at the hands of Jablonec.
Despite the morale boost that the Aberdeen result provided, McInnes emphasised that the club’s business is far from finished. He indicated that the board and scouting team are still actively seeking to bolster the attacking line‑up, with particular focus on replacing the departed forward Youssef Chermiti. "We’re still looking to bring in an extra goal‑scorer up front," McInnes said when questioned about potential signings. "We had a few weeks ago when Chermiti went down, and we’ve been working very hard to find someone who can add that cutting edge at the top of the pitch.
We hope to have some positive news before Wednesday." In addition to the forward‑line concerns, the manager addressed the lingering uncertainty surrounding Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin. While Raskin has not featured in the starting eleven at Pittodrie, with Connor Devlin and Dan Neil preferred in the central midfield roles, McInnes confirmed that no formal offers have yet been received for the 23‑year‑old.
"Nico might be a player who moves on, but as I said yesterday, there have been no bids for him," he explained. "The final days of the window are always the most hectic, and we expect things to pick up speed in the next couple of days." McInnes also reflected on the broader atmosphere within the squad as the deadline approaches.
He noted that many players are unsure of their future status, a common situation for managers trying to steer their teams through the closing stages of a transfer period. "Once the window shuts, we hope to be as strong as we can be," he added. "It brings a certain clarity, but until then there’s a lot of speculation in the dressing room about who might be coming in or going out." Rangers’ midfield deficiencies were highlighted by Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd, who argued that the team lacks a creative link‑man capable of connecting the middle of the park with the attack. Boyd questioned the club’s recruitment strategy, pointing out that despite the absence of any bids for Raskin, the midfielder is among the best in his position in the league.
"If there’s no interest in Raskin, you really need to get him," Boyd asserted. "Rangers are still missing a player who can orchestrate play and provide the creative spark." Boyd also raised concerns about the size of Rangers’ squad, suggesting that the club may be carrying too many players and that a reduction is necessary before any further additions are made. "Rangers probably have over thirty players on the books; that’s not sustainable," he said. "They need to let five, six, maybe seven players go before the window closes.
There are other areas besides the forward line that need reinforcement." The match at Pittodrie illustrated some of the on‑field issues that have prompted these calls for reinforcement. Rangers struggled to carve out clear-cut chances for much of the game, relying ultimately on a penalty to secure the win.
Their most promising attack came from a swift counter‑attack in which Gassama surged forward, only for his effort to be blunted by a well‑timed challenge from Marius Müller, while Afeez Aremu raced back to clear the ball off the line. The lack of fluidity and creativity in the final third was evident, reinforcing the need for a player who can bridge midfield and attack. Looking ahead, McInnes remains optimistic that the club will be able to finalize the necessary deals before the deadline.
He trusts that the scouting network will identify suitable targets and that the board will act decisively to secure them. "We’re hopeful that by the time the window shuts, we’ll have addressed the key gaps," he said. "The aim is to finish the summer with a squad that can compete on all fronts and give us the depth and quality we need." In summary, while the victory at Aberdeen provides a welcome lift for Rangers and their supporters, the manager’s comments underline that the season is still in its early stages and that strategic recruitment remains a priority. The club’s focus will now turn to the remaining days of the transfer window, with an eye on strengthening the attack, clarifying the midfield situation, and trimming the squad to a more manageable size.
Fans can expect further announcements in the coming days as Rangers aim to solidify their roster before the deadline, hoping to enter the second half of the season with a more balanced and competitive team.