Derek McInnes already looks set to step into the role as manager of Glasgow Rangers, but now it’s time for action. Will the Ibrox side be able to give him a team to challenge again this season?
The 54-year-old made no secret of the fact that last year was not successful for the Glasgow side in that regard, and outlined that he will have the final say on new signings this summer.
“We’re working hard to make sure we have players who are at the level we expect, but who obviously also give us the extra quality that we need,” McInnes said.
“Last season was a disappointing result for the club and the job won’t get done if we do something similar. So we have work to do.”
You can count the number of successful transfers in recent years on one hand, and young Mikey Moore was one of the few players to far exceed expectations last season after joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
It remains to be seen whether the teenager will return this summer, but those are the qualities the Gers should aim for.
McInnes pushes for next Rangers signing after McCrorie
Andrew Cavenagh has promised that there will be a different approach in the market as targets become increasingly pro-Scottish or pro-First Minister, and the Old Firm organization is already making progress on that front.
Shankland – Career | ||
|---|---|---|
club | game | the goal |
heart | 171 | 88 |
air united | 74 | 63 |
dundee united | 74 | 40 |
St Mirren | 55 | 14 |
queen’s park | 43 | 14 |
veils hot | 28 | 5 |
morton | 18 | 4 |
aberdeen | 17 | 0 |
dunfermline | 14 | 7 |
total | 494 | 235 |
Former Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland started the game following his quick arrival from Tynecastle, while McInnes also ensured another reunion as Ross McCrory secured a return to Ibrox.
The 28-year-old, who played under new Gers manager at Aberdeen, left Bristol City with one year left on his existing contract and is now taking over James Tavanier’s number two shirt at Glasgow.
McInnes could also have a key say in more potential transfers, with TEAMtalk providing an update on Rangers’ interest in bringing Lewis Ferguson back to Scotland.
According to reports, the Bologna man is open to talks over a move to Ibrox, but it remains to be seen whether the Serie A side will allow a sale despite their interest in Nicola Raskin.
It remains to be seen whether Ferguson will go the other way, but McInnes, who also managed the 26-year-old at Pittodrie, is said to be “very keen to reunite”.
Why Ferguson could be Rangers’ best signing since Moore
As I mentioned earlier, last year was not a huge success in terms of recruitment, with only a handful of new hires achieving long-term success.
Gers’ Player of the Year Emmanuel Fernandes was one of them, but the aforementioned Moore was undoubtedly the best, winning the PFA Scottish Player of the Year award for his good form under manager Danny Rolle.
The 18-year-old overcame a slow start to score seven goals in the Premiership, two of which came in separate fixtures at Celtic Park, leaving many of his senior colleagues in 2026.
He is a brilliant talent, but so is Ferguson, and the Scottish star has been a huge hit in both Serie A and the Premiership throughout his career so far.
Released by Rangers as a youngster, the midfielder headed to Aberdeen after a brief stint at Hamilton, making 169 appearances for the Dons, scoring 60 goals and assisting.
42 of those goals came in 115 appearances under McInnes, and despite his relative youth, Ferguson quickly established himself as the club’s talisman.
Something similar happened at Bologna, where the all-action star captained the team to Coppa Italia glory in 2025, despite only scoring 21 goals and assists in 115 games.
He was also named Serie A Midfielder of the Year for the 2023/24 season, with Rome-based journalist Alasdair McKenzie hailing him as “one of the biggest sensations of the biggest sensations in Serie A” that season.
For manager McKenzie, Ferguson is an “all-round package”, having most frequently played as a No. 10 for his club, although he has fallen into a deeper role as his country’s representative, replacing the injured Billy Gilmour.
It’s no secret that Steve Clarke’s side’s journey in the United States has not been smooth sailing, but Ferguson remains one of the bright lights, with BBC Sport’s Scott Mullen calling him Scotland’s “most influential player”.
Rangers have had the benefit of signing a player of pure quality from an elite club in the form of Moore last year, and bringing in a player of that caliber could really make a difference for McInnes and co.
Acquiring Ferguson won’t be an easy task, much like trying to sign Moore permanently, but if Raskin is on the way, this feels like a no-brainer.
Better deal than McCrorie: Rangers in contract talks with McInnes, £6m star
Ross McCrory isn’t the only defensive target for Rangers.
