This piece is an extract from yesterday'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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Despite being 17 days into the January transfer window, Rangers have yet to bolster their ageing squad.

It's a situation that has been met with growing frustration amongst supporters and understandably so.

There is no question the current pool needs an injection of fresh faces. But just as everyone will be desperate for the excitement of new signings, such razzle-dazzle quickly fades. Who could forget the delight that met the arrival of Aaron Ramsey and how that deal subsequently panned out. 

What's more important than anything else is that any incomings are the right faces.

Manager Michael Beale said as much in his pre-Kilmarnock press conference when quizzed if he would’ve liked to have had strengthened already.

“I don't want any short-term gaps,” he remarked. “For me, it's about bringing in players who I think can make a big impact moving forward.

“There are ongoing discussions with players who are out of contract, so we're trying to look at what the squad is going to look like in 2023, 2024 and onwards.

“In the past, we've made some key recruits that are still in the team now. It's important whatever decisions we make are the right ones.

“You can be where you want with the right player, you identify him and then discussions have to happen between the clubs and the agents. All that takes longer than what a coach would like but at the moment, with everything I'm hearing from behind the scenes I'm happy with the work that we’re doing.”

Transfer windows are theatre for football fans whatever club you support. New signings get the blood pumping and Rangers supporters are no different.

Beale’s words are important to consider, however.

There is no point in acquiring an Amad Diallo or a Ramsey only for them to depart six months later. Rangers need to build a new team for the long term so that requires a degree of patience in order to add the sort of players that will become mainstays for seasons to come.

Beale has said he doesn’t want squad fillers, the club has more than enough of those already. It’s safe to assume negotiations take time to add players of genuine quality, particularly during the January window.

At this time of year, it would be easier to acquire players that clubs wish to move on rather than ones they are looking for a premium in terms of transfer fee.

Of the players linked thus far, it’s understood talks are ongoing with Todd Cantwell over a switch north from Norwich City. Having spoken to a Canaries source close to the player, he is certainly someone that has the potential to excite and improve the starting eleven.

There is no denying he has lost his way in recent seasons but he is someone you’d imagine Beale would love to work with and coach back into the gallus, uber-confident player he was when he broke through at Carrow Road.

Rangers Review: (Image: NQ)

Morgan Whittaker from Swansea City has also been mooted as someone the Ibrox club is interested in. He too would look a decent acquisition given his age and potential but only if a price can be agreed upon.

Beale’s comments about a potential replacement for Steven Davis were also interesting. “By the end of this window and by the summer window I think you’ll see a player come in of that type,” he said. “Then that player will, hopefully over time, do what Davo has done.”

He did add that we shouldn’t rule out a Davis comeback but at 38 years of age, it’s clear the Rangers boss is thinking about the future - which he will have to do for a number of players reaching the end of their Ibrox careers.

As much as we’d all love these players in the door yesterday, Rangers simply cannot afford to rush any future recruitment process. And you can double that for Sporting Director Ross Wilson whose every move is monitored closely by a support already largely unimpressed with his work in the transfer market to date.

With the league title looking out of reach, it’s imperative the club build a squad capable of going the distance next term. The squad needs to be revamped but at least Beale’s comments tell us that there is a long-term plan in place to restore Rangers to the very top.