Rangers transfers are exciting but there's still work to do - Stevie Clifford

Rangers' business has fairly increased since my last Ibrox catch-up on this column!

Joe Aribo is the big departure, something we had touched on previously and there was an expectancy surrounding that. A £10m deal is welcomed especially with a potential sell-on and whilst the fee is frustrating in some ways, it’s still great we can be disappointed with a deal so large.

Sadly sometimes the players hold all the aces when it comes to contracts. It was clear Joe found his future away from the club and after three seasons that’s totally fair.

I still don’t believe Joe has hit his peak levels or been consistent enough. I warned back in December that six weeks a season wasn’t sufficient but he still has time to grow. I’m a bit frustrated he never hit the heights more consistently but he goes with my best wishes.

Antonio Colak is here for the money recouped from Cedric Itten's departure, plus a couple of pennies here and there. That’s almost old news now and we have had a glimpse of him. Following him was Tom Lawrence of Derby on a free contract in what I think is a very smart deal. Then there is the unknown quantity, the speed demon Rabbi Matondo from Schalke in a deal worth around £2.5m.

Now add that to the deal for John Souttar and Rangers have spent somewhere around £4.5m and recruited four top international experienced players.

Now key to that? Goals, numbers and opportunities. Between them, Lawrence, Matondo and Colak all contributed 50 plus goal involvements last season. What did we miss last season? Exactly that, goals, chances and excitement.

Controversial perhaps, Rangers are a very hard-working side. Defensively sound and I think tactically astute, as the European run proved, but the bit that gets tricky, maybe we lack some flair and excitement. Being even more greedy, I still think we need one or even two more.

The team needs an 8/10 breaking forward from midfield. Goals from this area is a big problem. We also need another striker. Alfredo is first choice and Colak will push him all the way but after that, there is not a lot.

Sadly for me, Kemar Roofe cannot be trusted because he is never available. The truth is for the top money we must be paying him, his availability means I’d move him on. Another training ground injury and another potential month or so out means he’ll miss pre-season, then he’ll need to play catch up again and at what point do we say enough is enough?

It’s the same for Filip Helander. 60 games in three years for £3.5m is not value for money and indeed Connor Goldson managed it with games to spare last year alone.

The truth is both are part of a group of 10 players that we need to sort the futures of at Ibrox. Departures are needed. Kieran Wright and Robby McCrorie mean we have four goalkeepers, one of them needs to go on loan. From a top-heavy defence, Filip Helander, Nicola Katic and Jack Simpson could also be surplus to requirements.

Then in midfield, Glenn Middleton and Stephen Kelly are too good to sit in the stands and their futures need to be resolved. Then in the forward areas, we have Josh McPake who looks closest to a loan move. Can I just say, I don’t think any of these players are bad players, it's just we can’t afford to let them sit in the stands.

Here’s where I get a bit controversial. As well as Kemar Roofe and Filip Helander, if someone is interested in Glen Kamara and it brings us serious money then we have to contemplate it. A fantastic player but perhaps, for his own good as well as ours, a fresh start may benefit him greatly.

Sure it’s not as easy as that and it’s all a bit of a Football Manager hypothetical but the point I think remains. Our business is far from over. There is a great deal to do, both in and out.

But it’s been a good beginning and what I like most is our signings have been smart and prudent. The three attackers will bring numbers and a fit John Souttar will provide defensive stability, keeping him available may be the challenge.

But we are on the right path and let’s remember, this team is a European finalist. It needs a little sprinkling of talent and with that, we won’t be far away. We are clearly a well-coached good side, we just lack that stardust the new boys will bring. We are sometimes far too down on ourselves and whilst it's easy to be edgy and critical, we currently have a team which did do spectacular things last year that cost around £15m to construct.

We all asked why clubs like Rosenborg constantly do well on limited budgets and don’t realise we are doing the same. It also applies to Ross Wilson, sure we have missed out on some players and a few we would have loved to see at Ibrox but at least we are aware and in that market.

We can be critical but the truth is we never know why a deal didn’t happen. But he does deserve scrutiny on January and his part in our second season post-Christmas slump. My point overall is that maybe we don’t focus on the positives enough.

Add in one or two more and I’ll be loving this window. Blackpool, West Ham and Spurs in quick succession will hopefully bring some focus and game time for our players as we ready ourselves for the season ahead. Plenty of action is coming our way! Exciting isn’t it?

And I’d hazard a guess there will be more signings to come too!