Michael Beale admits it is a 'big summer' ahead as he looks to build a team capable of competing in the Champions League once again.
Rangers are set for a busy couple of months as the boss bids to have his squad in place as early as possible with some new faces returning with the current players for pre-season training at the end of June. Giovanni van Bronckhorst guided the Light Blues to Europe's top table through the qualifying process this season but it was a group stage campaign forget as they suffered six defeats from six and ended with the 'worst ever' tag.
Beale admits his current crop would have to 'outperform' itself in order to land silverware and compete in Europe's premier competition. A number of high profile players are also out of contract with decisions yet to be determined either way in what is set to be a summer of transition at Ibrox. Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin arrived in January to kick-off the new era under the 42-year-old.
READ MORE: Ryan Kent Rangers future latest as Burnley 'make their move' to sign Ibrox star on free transfer
He said: “It’s huge. We can see we have the foundations but it’s a big summer because there are some prominent players out of contact, some big players who have been fantastic for club over the last few years and performed well.
“But it’s natural we need to bring some freshness in. I think the fans want to see some fresh faces and energy as well. You can see how they’ve taken to the two new signings.
“It’s important as well that I feel energised about the squad we’ve got – that I think we can achieve the targets ultimately we are setting ourselves.
“We’re setting targets to win things and go and play in the Champions League again.
“It’s fair to say the current squad might have to outperform itself to do that. So it needs help.”
Asked if he wanted his squad finalised by the time the Champions League qualifiers kick-off, he added: “I’m going to push for it. The first international break comes around September 3 or 4 and the window obviously shuts a couple of days before.
“By then, you’ve played five league games and possibly two or four European games. We know the start of our season is very important. It always has been.
“I remember when we were qualifying against Ufa, then Legia Warsaw, then Galatasaray. Last year it was PSV.
“Those moments are pivotal in the season because they set up the rest of the season. We have to get the squad we want in place by then.
“I want the squad in place as early as possible. We return to pre-season the last couple of days of June and I expect to see some new faces returning that day.”
READ NEXT:
- Rangers' Ryan Kent 'to be watched' as Burnley weigh up move to take him to English Premier League
- Rangers captain James Tavernier surprises kids at Castlemilk community football pitch
- Rangers 5 St Mirren 2 as Todd Cantwell steps up, Fashion Sakala impresses - 3 things we learned
- Rangers player ratings vs St Mirren as Todd Cantwell shines and Alfredo Morelos hits double
- Ally McCoist names four Rangers transfers Michael Beale needs more than Ross Wilson replacement
