Rangers enter a potentially defining summer transfer window as Giovanni van Bronckhorst finally has the opportunity to shape the Ibrox side in his image.

The Gers have a multitude of unresolved contract situations, but even in spite of that the Dutchman has several areas which need strengthened in the squad.

The Rangers Review analyses those positions of need.

Right winger

“I would say the biggest change since I came in is that we have started playing with out-and-out wingers because we have the players with those qualities to do that,” van Bronckhorst noted just under a month into his time at Ibrox.

However, as time passed, the Dutchman quickly realised that, although the quality existed on one flank with Ryan Kent, there was a dearth of reliable options on the opposite side.

Scott Wright was drafted in from the cold, but the former Aberdeen man left a lot to be desired with his decision making. Although recent months have seen an improvement in his raw numbers, he still lacks the dynamism which defines Kent on the left.

Amad Diallo was added on loan from Manchester United in January, but the 19-year-old lacked the defensive characteristics to succeed in a rough-and-tumble domestic environment.

van Bronckhorst decided to restore James Tavernier to his aggressive role on the right-hand side to compensate, bearing fruit with an excellent run of form towards the end of the league season.

In the short-term the right winger must be able to dovetail effectively with Tavernier given the monstrous attacking contributions of the Rangers skipper. However, the 30-year-old isn’t getting any younger and, with a nod to the future, van Bronckhorst must focus his attentions of shifting the attacking responsibility to those further up the pitch.

Left-sided central defender

Although there are concerns over his injury history, Rangers were intelligent in their recruitment of John Souttar on a pre-contract to succeed Connor Goldson in central defence.

However, there are issues to sort on the left side of central defence, with Filip Helander struggling for fitness and ill-suited to van Bronckhorst’s style of play.

Leon Balogun may extend his stay at Ibrox to provide short-term cover, but the Nigeria international is 33 and can often look overwhelmed against top-level European opposition.

Calvin Bassey’s future may lie on the left of a four-man defence as an inside full-back who can provide cover in central defence.

van Bronckhorst is likely to seek a defender with similar attributes to the former Leicester City man.

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Number eight

van Bronckhorst’s recruitment in the winter transfer window offered an insight into which areas of his side he believes require strengthening.

Aaron Ramsey followed Amad in the door to much fanfare, but the Welshman struggled to stay fit during his time at the club.

In brief flashes, he showed his quality, with goals against Dundee and Celtic underlining the type of dynamism that van Bronckhorst is keen to recruit.

Scott Arfield has signed a one-year contract extension, but Rangers require a more athletic option to make the difference on European nights.

Goalkeeper

Allan McGregor looks set to hang up his gloves after a glistening career at Ibrox, with Rangers reportedly on the hunt for a goalkeeping option.

Jon McLaughlin will assume the duties of No.1 in the short-term and the former Hearts stopper has proven reliable in his fleeting appearances, playing a significant role in the side’s Scottish Cup success last season.

The 34-year-old commands his penalty box better than McGregor and, although his heroics are few and far between compared to his legendary counterpart, he is a reassuring figure for the defence.

Robby McCrorie is also likely to be given a chance to stake his claim after impressing in the 1-0 win over Celtic at Ibrox last season. The 24-year-old is agile coming off his goalline and can distribute the ball effectively over long distances.

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That opens up another spot in the goalkeeping pecking order, and Rangers could benefit from an adept shot-stopper whose distribution is a defining factor as they aim to take the next step on the continent.

Having a goalkeeper comfortable in possession is surely going to be a non-negotiable for ambitious clubs in the future and Rangers should be keen to steal a march.

A back-up No.9

The severity of Alfredo Morelos’ injury may dictate his short-term Ibrox future this summer, but Rangers will be eager to avoid a repeat of last season’s striker situation.

The Gers were forced to play both legs of the Europa League semi-final and eventual final without a recognised No.9 after both Morelos and Kemar Roofe found their way onto the treatment table.

Persistent injuries have dogged Roofe’s Ibrox career since he arrived in the summer of 2020 and, as a result, the 29-year-old has lost his spark of pace that characterised his success at Leeds.

The length of Morelos’ injury was a freak when set against his availability in previous seasons, but with van Bronckhorst restoring him to his previous, dominant role, the Colombian became increasingly relied upon.

Finding a No.9 content to share the workload with the Colombian will be a difficult sell, but Rangers cannot allow themselves to become stretched as they did during the spring in the forward area.