Derek McInnes has confirmed that Rangers are gearing up for a busy final stretch of the summer transfer window following their hard‑earned 1‑0 win over Aberdeen, which finally gave the club its first Scottish Premiership triumph 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 pressure on McInnes after a turbulent week that saw Rangers eliminated from European competition by Jablonec.
Despite the morale boost, the Rangers manager made it clear that the club is still active in the market and expects to make additional moves before the window shuts. "I think there will be," McInnes said when asked whether further signings were likely.
He emphasized that the team is still looking to replace the departed Youssef Chermiti, noting that the striker suffered a serious injury a few weeks ago. "We've been working very hard to bring in an extra goal‑scoring option up front. We could really do without one in.
Hopefully we have some good news on that before Wednesday," he added. The situation surrounding Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin also remains uncertain.
While McInnes admitted that the player could still depart, he stressed that no formal bids have been received to date. "Nico might be one that moves on. But as I said yesterday, there were no bids in for Nico," he explained.
He went on to describe the typical pattern of activity at the close of a transfer window, noting that the final days are usually when most deals are concluded. "I think once the window shuts, we’ll be as strong as we want to be and as strong as we can be," McInnes said, adding that the period can be confusing for players who are unsure of their future.
Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd offered his own perspective, highlighting what he sees as a glaring weakness in Rangers' midfield. Boyd argued that the squad lacks a player capable of linking the middle 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 there have been no bids for Nicolas Raskin, get him in your team because he's the best midfielder by a country mile," Boyd said.
He also questioned the size of Rangers' roster, suggesting that the club has become bloated with over 30 players and should consider off‑loading five to seven individuals before adding more. The match at Pittodrie illustrated some of the issues Boyd mentioned. Rangers struggled to create clear-cut chances for much of the game, relying on a swift counter‑attack that saw Gassama surge forward before a Kim shot was blocked by Marius Muller, with Afeez Aremu racing back to clear the danger.
It was ultimately Shankland's penalty that broke the deadlock, but the performance underscored the need for a more creative link‑up player in midfield and additional depth in other areas of the squad. Looking ahead, McInnes remains optimistic that the club can resolve its recruitment challenges before the deadline. He acknowledged that the uncertainty surrounding player contracts can be unsettling for the dressing room, but he trusts that the management team will navigate the final days effectively. "It just calms up and down in terms of clarity.
A lot of players in the dressing room don't know if they're coming or going with that side yet, and that's just the way it is for managers to try and navigate that last part," he said. In summary, Rangers have secured a vital win that eases immediate pressure, but the manager and pundits alike agree that further work is required to strengthen the squad. The focus remains on adding a proven goal scorer to replace Chermiti, potentially securing Raskin if a suitable offer emerges, and trimming the squad to a more manageable size.
With only a few days left in the transfer window, the club is expected to make decisive moves to ensure they enter the second half of the season with a balanced, competitive roster capable of challenging for titles on both domestic and European fronts.