Michael Beale reveals summer revamp plans at Rangers
The Ibrox boss wants new players in to make a major impact
Michael Beale will look to bring in three or four "massive impact" players as part of his wider summer revamp at Rangers.
The Gers boss is still smarting from the 2-1 defeat by Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Viaplay Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday.
It was the former Rangers assistant coach's first defeat in 15 games since taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst but it brought a heap of criticism, with fans aware that Ange Postecoglou's side are nine points clear at the top of the cinch Premiership with only the Scottish Cup now up for grabs this season.
A clutch of players including Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Steven Davis are out of contract at the end of the season.
Ahead of the visit of second-bottom Kilmarnock in the league on Saturday, Beale said the defeat by Celtic was a "huge disappointment" as he looked to the future.
"It is clear that the football we are playing at the moment and the way I would like us to play is probably not aligned so we have to keep moving forward," said the former QPR boss, who revealed John Souttar returns to the squad while fellow long-term injured defender Ridvan Yilmaz will play a reserve game before he is back.
"The summer window is very important to the football club. I think we need to recruit three or four who are going to make a massive impact to the team.
"We need to obviously sort out the futures of the ones who are here and maybe we have to change one or two who are in contract as well. There is no exact number. I need to make a strong team.
"At the moment we have a recipe to a certain level but we fell short at the weekend. I am definitely clear on the direction we need to go.
"We need to make a big shift in the energy we have on the pitch on matchday. That is recruiting. It might be developing, promoting from within as well.
"The team needs to show more and that starts with me. I have to do better because it is clear that although we had done well in the previous 14 games, the first half was enough for me to know we have to do a hell of a lot of work.
"I don't want wins against other opposition, who are in different places in the league, to overshadow what we have to do - win, not compete, and compete better in Europe.
"It is important we start the rebuild as soon as possible. We have started behind the scenes but come the summer it will be an interesting moment in terms of changing the make-up of the group. We need to reduce the number of the squad.
"I said before that 25 per cent of the squad would turn over and I am sticking by that. Players have been identified, it is about getting that work done swiftly."
Rangers Legends
Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist is the clubs' record goal scorer, landing 355 goals in his 581 appearances. He played for the club from 1983-1998. McCoist also won two back-to-back European Golden Shoe's, in 1991/92 and 1992/93. While playing for Rangers, McCoist won 20 trophies.
The club legend managed the side from 2011-2015, where he won a League One title and a Third division title.
John Greig
Often called 'the greatest Ranger', Greig holds the record for the most appearances made for the side. He made 755 appearances between 1961-1978, where he also scored 120 goals and won 16 trophies.
Sandy Jardine
Right back Sandy Jardine made 674 appearances for Rangers and scored 77 goals. Jardine won two domestic trebles in 1975/76 and 1977/78. Jardine won 14 trophies at Rangers, including their only European trophy.
Davie Cooper
Davie Cooper made 540 appearances for Rangers where he scored 75 goals. He won 13 trophies while at the club.
Bill Struth
Bill Struth was the second manager of Rangers Football Club, and lead the club for 34 years between 1920 and 1954. Struth won a record 18 Scottish league championships, 10 Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.
Walter Smith
Smith managed Rangers from 1991-1998, where he won 13 major trophies in seven years, including seven league titles in succession. He returned to Rangers in January 2007, where we went on to win eight trophies during his second spell as Rangers manager and guided the team to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. This would be Walter Smith's final managerial job as he retired in 2011.
Brain Laudrup
Brian Laudrup won three consecutive league titles for rangers between 1994 and 1998. He scored 44 goals in his 150 appearances.
Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne played for Rangers from 1995-1998, where he won two consecutive titles and two doubles. Gazza scored 39 goals in his 103 appearances.
Richard Gough
Richard Gough played for Rangers from 1987-1998 where he won 18 trophies, including nine consecutive Scottish Premier Division titles. The right back made 244 appearances and scored 37 goals.
Moses McNeil
Alongside William McBeath, Peter Campbell and his brother, Peter McNeil, Moses McNeil is one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. In May 1872, Rangers played their first ever match against Callander F.C. at Glasgow Green's Flesher's Haugh, which resulted in a 0–0 draw.