And just like that, as the players return to the training centre - a new season begins.

Seville, in all its majesty and misery, seems like it occurred yesterday. Such is the relentless way of the football calendar in Scotland.

It will take a long time for the memories of 21/22 to fade, both good and bad, but there's plenty to get excited about heading into this new term.

At the top of everyone's list of priorities is, of course, transfers. Both in and out.

John Souttar is the only confirmed new boy, but he should be a starter and given his ability to play out from the back, he could be a lot more important than some people give him credit for. His numbers at Hearts last season were nothing short of superb and close observers have long suggested he has a few levels still to go in terms of improvement.

A key coach in his development was adamant when he told me Souttar should be a Scotland mainstay and his talent on the ball marked him out as a future Premier League player. His injuries have hampered him but if he can reach his potential the deal has all the hallmarks of an excellent piece of business. His fitness will have to be managed, but with Leon King waiting in the wings, there's no need for a second iron man who plays every game in the Connor Goldson mould. In some ways, having a player looking at 35 starts a year will allow for the youngster to bloom.

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It's no secret Rangers need goals and Antonio Colak is a name that isn't going away. The club is interested in the Croatian but you could say that about several and an agreement would need to be reached over the size of the deal for a 28-year-old who would have little sell-on value. You'd have to say the speculation certainly hasn't dried up since his name emerged which perhaps speaks volumes.

With Amad and Aaron Ramsey also coming to the end of their loan deals the strong squad that helped Rangers get to the Europa League final has been weakened, if not the starting XI. A box-to-box midfielder and a winger must surely still be the top priorities for Giovanni van Bronckhorst but much will depend on who leaves and for how much.

So far, Jake Hastie has headed south permanently but the likes of Glenn Middleton, Jack Simpson, Stephen Kelly and Niko Katic could all yet be trimmed from the wage bill.

Big-name players like Joe Aribo, Alfredo Morelos, Calvin Bassey and Ryan Kent will continue to be in demand as managers return from their summer holidays refreshed and looking to upgrade their teams.

If none of that comes to fruition, Rangers will continue to have a highly competitive side and will face some interesting discussions with agents in the months ahead. Goldson may not be the last difficult negotiation to ensure a new deal.

The club remain confident of a good season and happy with how the squad is shaping up. A cold and rational analysis might suggest that taking the group that went to sunny Seville and adding Morelos, Helander and Souttar means Rangers really don't have too much to fear.

That said, a little more firepower would make you feel a lot more comfortable about any predictions of glory in the months ahead. 

There is however, a long, long way to go.

This piece is an extract from today’s Rangers Insider newsletter, which is emailed out at 5pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from the Rangers Review team.

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