Rangers is planning a major transfer overhaul to challenge Celtic dominance, focusing on four key positions.

Derek McInnes may have mixed feelings about the current transfer window as he attempts to reshape the Rangers squad and build a team capable of challenging Celtic.

On one hand, the Rangers boss will be grateful for the opportunity to strengthen his squad and bring in players who can help him implement his ideas. On the other, he is likely counting down the days until the window finally closes.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes

There is still a significant amount of work to do at Ibrox, with McInnes potentially requiring another five additions before the squad resembles the one he wants to work with.

The constant rumours, speculation and uncertainty surrounding potential arrivals and departures can make a manager’s job difficult. Once the deadline passes, McInnes will finally know exactly which players are staying, who he can rely on and what his options are for the rest of the campaign.

Not every player who has arrived this summer will necessarily have been McInnes’ personal choice. Some targets were already being considered by Rangers’ recruitment department before the manager’s appointment. However, once the transfer window closes, the squad will effectively become McInnes’ team.

Derek McInnes

That should allow him to settle properly into the job and focus entirely on improving Rangers’ performances and challenging for silverware.

McInnes needs more reinforcements

The beginning of McInnes’ reign has been inconsistent, with Rangers struggling to produce convincing performances on a regular basis.

The manager has been forced into more changes than he would have wanted, partly because of the evolving squad and the need to assess his players.

However, Sunday’s emphatic Premier Sports Cup victory over St Mirren provided plenty of encouragement.

Rangers produced a commanding display, scoring five goals and creating enough opportunities to have potentially added several more.

The result should provide McInnes and his players with an important confidence boost ahead of their European clash with FK Jablonec and the demanding Premiership fixtures that follow.

Their league schedule includes a trip to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen, making momentum particularly important.

Despite the convincing victory, McInnes knows there are still areas of the squad that require strengthening.

Four positions remain priorities

James Penrice already appears to have been an excellent addition, with his debut performance against St Mirren suggesting Rangers may have found an energetic and effective player.

Kosta Nedeljkovic is another exciting addition. The Aston Villa youngster possesses the pace, ability and potential to strengthen Rangers at right-back, where he will compete with Dujon Sterling.

However, McInnes still wants more additions before the window closes.

One of the most obvious requirements is a striker. Rangers are pursuing Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy as they look to compensate for the long-term injury suffered by Youssef Chermiti.

The Venezuelan has emerged as an important target, but completing the transfer may require Rangers to negotiate carefully over the fee.

Another priority is the right side of the attack.

McInnes wants competition for Daisuke Yokota and has identified Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry as a preferred option.

The Rangers manager is reportedly a major admirer of the young winger and would like to bring him to Ibrox. The major obstacle could be Brighton’s valuation, with Rangers needing to ensure the asking price remains within their budget.

McInnes also wants another left-sided attacking player to provide additional depth and competition alongside Djeidi Gassama and Findlay Curtis.

A left-sided centre-back is another position that needs attention. Rangers currently lack a natural option in that role, making it an area the manager would like to address before the deadline.

Midfield could become the biggest problem

Those four positions represent major priorities, but another area could suddenly become even more urgent before September 4.

That would happen if Nico Raskin and/or Connor Barron leave the club.

Both players have been linked with potential departures, and if either or both are sold, McInnes would need to reconsider his midfield options.

Rangers have already added Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic during the summer, while Mo Diomande recently left the club.

However, the St Mirren victory exposed an issue that cannot be ignored.

Even with Rangers holding a 2-0 advantage, there were periods when they lacked authority and control in central midfield.

The team still appears to be missing a player capable of dictating matches and controlling the tempo in the way Callum McGregor does for Celtic.

Rangers have not had a midfielder of that type since the days when Steven Davis and Ryan Jack provided experience and composure in the middle of the pitch.

If Raskin and Barron both depart, that weakness would become even more obvious.

Deadline-day scramble possible

The potential midfield departures could therefore leave McInnes with an unexpected problem late in the transfer window.

Should Raskin and Barron leave alongside Diomande, Rangers could suddenly find themselves short of numbers and quality in central midfield.

That could force the club into a frantic search for another player on deadline day.

Finding a midfielder capable of providing control, creativity and defensive balance at such a late stage would not be straightforward.

McInnes has already made significant changes to the squad, but the final weeks of the window could determine whether Rangers have enough quality to compete with Celtic over the course of the season.

The manager will therefore be hoping the remaining business goes according to plan.

If Rangers manage to bring in the striker, attacking reinforcements, left-sided centre-back and other targets while retaining the players they want to keep, McInnes should finally have the squad he needs.

And if that happens, September 4 cannot arrive quickly enough.

The Rangers boss will be able to put the transfer uncertainty behind him, establish his preferred team and concentrate on turning the club’s early-season promise into a genuine challenge for Celtic at the top of Scottish football.