Rangers’ summer transfer window has been, for many weeks, something of a waiting game.

It’s been a little over two weeks since the club last announced an arrival in the form of Hamza Igamane. The fact that the 21-year-old wasn’t part of the club’s pre-season training camp in the Netherlands and is “way behind” others according to Philippe Clement has not helped fan sentiment, even if the Moroccan forward has been signed as much for his potential as quality. A dreary and damp defeat against a cobbled-together Manchester United squad in Edinburgh last Saturday did little to lift a low mood. Noise off the pitch has dominated May, June and July so far; whether that be Clement’s pre-season comments, a CEO leaving, Ibrox delays or a perceived lack of activity in the market.

READ MORE: Check all the Rangers transfer news & rumours before the transfer window

In truth, the Rangers squad who travelled across the M8 last weekend to face Erik ten Hag’s side is weaker than the one that drew with Hearts on the final day of last season in May. Which is the fixture that will kick off the coming season in less than a fortnight.

Two things have been clear regarding the club’s summer business since the off. Firstly, their recruitment focus has changed. As Clement recently reiterated, Rangers’ plan is not only to sign experienced players for the short term but avoid mistakes made in recent windows by planning for the future. They are working to a new “recruitment philosophy” after summers of jumping between plans without continuity. At the time of writing, aside from backup goalkeeper Liam Kelly, the six players signed permanently since director of football recruitment Nils Koppen arrived at Ibrox boast an average age of 20 years and six months.

Of that six, however, only three are expected to be ready to start matches as first-choice picks in the early weeks of the campaign. Clinton Nsiala has no previous exposure to first-team minutes and while both Igamane and Jefte have been important players in Cyprus and Morocco, neither are seen as first options up top and at left-back just yet.

The second facet of this window has been the need for circumstances to align. Champions League qualification, timing and exits, namely. Rangers could not, given the make-up of their squad and standing, afford to spend heavily first and ramp up an already bloated wage bill. For successive seasons millions of pounds have sat injured in the stands, while five players left the club out of contract for free just months ago.

There’s a growing sense that after weeks of stalemates in the transfer window, Rangers may get what they finally require in the coming days - outgoings to trigger incomings. As Clement recently made public, business must occur in that order to shift salaries and generate the funds required to regenerate the spine of this squad.

Of course, the fact that other clubs know Rangers want and need to sell hasn’t aided their bargaining position in a market already slowed by a major championship. The decision to sell Sam Lammers following his standout loan spell in the Netherlands was made the week after last season ended but a deal hasn’t materialised as quickly as hoped, despite the interest held in the 26-year-old from more than one Eredivisie club.

Tavernier and Goldson before an Old Firm match last season (Image: Alan Harvey - SNS Group)

As Clement confirmed in an interview with RangersTV last week, agreements are in place with others to move to the club but timing remains an issue.

"We're not where we want to be at the end of August but no team is, I know supporters want that but it's not possible," he said. 

"Everyone is working hard on that, how fast those things go you never have control because it has to do with what you can spend and other teams if they want to let players go and convincing players. There are several players who are convinced that Rangers is a good place but you still need negotiations around that.

"I know for fans it's a little like football manager, so you think everything is possible at the moment but it's not reality. The most important thing is everyone is aligned about plans, the profiles we need to grow and become better. Not only short term but long term. That's an important thing people need to understand."

James Tavernier is close to ending his nine-year stay at Ibrox with a move to Turkey. Rangers had knocked back an initial offer from Trabzonspor, who are understood to have agreed personal terms with the player, before receiving a second bid from the Turkish outfit over the weekend. Tavernier was not part of the team that travelled to face Manchester United and didn’t train due to a reported injury over a week-long camp in the Netherlands.

Dujon Sterling is viewed as a natural successor at right-back. Although the player himself is also open to the idea of playing in midfield, both parties recognise the need for Sterling to develop in one position for the good of his game as opposed to filling in a variety of roles.

Connor Goldson has been in a very similar position to the club captain all summer and is expected to leave Ibrox this summer. Unlike in previous years, when the captain and vice-captain have been at the centre of plans, Rangers have been open to their futures lying elsewhere. Goldson lost his place in the centre of defence before picking up an injury that ended his 2023/24 campaign following his worst run of form during a nominally consistent spell at Ibrox. That was the first occasion in his six-year spell at Ibrox that he’d been dropped.

Ianis Hagi is also expected to leave Ibrox this summer while Todd Cantwell’s future remains up in the air with Rangers open to offers. The club would like to bring in another striker if they can first recoup the money they paid Cremonese for Cyriel Dessers last year.

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Fresh reports in the Daily Record have also linked Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland with a move to Ibrox this summer. While the 28-year-old was heavily linked to the club in January with a transfer discussed by key decision-makers, the Rangers Review understands a move wasn't pursued due to the fee and make-up of the squad - with three No.9s over the age of 26 on Rangers' wage bill at that time and Danilo (then 24).

However, despite some reservations internally regarding the Scotland international's ability to lead the line in a pressing system, a goal tally of 31 last season is hard to argue with and could tempt the club to consider an offer with Shankland entering the final year of his contract.

The question for Rangers remains timing. There’s a squad to be submitted for Champions League qualifiers in nine days time and a league opener against Hearts two days later to be played. The first month of the season can make or break any campaign at Ibrox. Last season offers a perfect demonstration. 

In many ways, this feels like a transfer window that will defined by who goes out the door rather than who comes in. More experience is expected to arrive between now and the close of the transfer window, not least due to the players still expected to leave the club, and it needs to. Rangers’ squad at the time of writing is not stronger than it was in May and that cannot remain the case if Clement is to succeed.

Rangers cannot fix all of their squad’s issues in one transfer window but if exits play out as expected, what outgoings suggest and signify will be loud.