RANGERS’ transfer window has finally clicked into gear over the past weekend.

Antonio Colak and Tom Lawrence have arrived while Joe Aribo has joined Southampton, for what Rangers described as a “significant fee”, believed to be a package worth £10million including a sell-on clause.

The Rangers Review understands the club remains in negotiations with youngster Rabbi Matondo, with FC Schalke confirming via their Twitter feed earlier on Monday that the Welsh winger would miss their pre-season trip in Austria due to ‘transfer talks’.

Acquiring Matondo, who moved to Germany from Man City for a reported £11.3million in 2019 and impressed in the Belgian top-flight last season, would certainly excite the Ibrox fanbase. Already an international player and known for his ball-carrying ability off the right and left, Matondo’s arrival would provide Giovanni van Bronckhorst with quality in an area of the pitch that’s lacked consistency.

The noises coming out of Ibrox certainly qualify the opinion that more players will arrive this window.

“Ross [Wilson] is busy. We want to add more players to our squad,” said van Bronckhorst on Saturday.

And speaking to the Rangers Review last week, Connor Goldson revealed Wilson’s assurances during summer contract negotiations that the squad would be strengthened this window.

“That was crucial in my talks with Ross Wilson, I don’t want to stay if we’re not developing and keeping on as a team,” Goldson said when quizzed on his desire to keep moving forwards.

“To be fair to the club, their ambitions sound really good and they want to kick on, invest and get the best team possible.”

READ MORE: Rabbi Matondo to Rangers transfer latest - Video update

The end of the window will be as good a time as any to judge the Sporting Director’s work. Since arriving in 2019, his reputation has experienced highs and lows. Securing Aaron Ramsey, regardless of the outcome, was a signing few believed to be fiscally possible and while relinquishing the title last season was a disaster, the run to Seville highlighted the value of retaining the title-winning squad from 2021.

Contrastingly, critics would point to the lack of starting 11 improvement and squad fillers that simply haven’t worked out, while losing the league last season appeared unbelievable the previous May.

It’s common knowledge that Gerrard wanted to keep the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Glen Kamara in the summer before he departed. Equally, the Rangers Review understands van Bronckhorst was key in retaining the services of experienced trio Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield this summer.

Wilson builds the squad to suit a manager’s preference and without Champions League money to this point, has done so on a budget.

However, given the money generated from player sales and with Champions League football once more a possibility, further squad refreshment, and perhaps departures, seems likely. 

Wilson has now appointed his manager in van Bronckhorst and is embarking on a deciding summer. Kent and Morelos must agree new deals or be sold, the squad still requires depth, and the starting 11 requires improvement at right-wing and in attacking midfield. 

The reality is that one big signing and Wilson’s popularity will likely soar again. In his spell at the club, numerous other areas, such as the academy, facilities, European progression and player-trading, have all improved. Last summer, the free agent market was well utilised to sign the now firmly-established John Lundstram with the centre of midfield lacking physicality the season prior.

The year before that, as discussed recently, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi provided the necessary goals and assists to assuage Rangers’ goalscoring domestic problems and return a 55th league title.

While the proof will ultimately be provided next May, September’s state of the squad will allow supporters to ascertain whether the club has built on a position of strength.

Based on recent days, it looks likely that will be the case.