McInnes swings the axe in massive Ibrox overhaul

Derek McInnes is not wasting any time. The new Rangers manager is running a bulldozer through the dressing room, cashing in on established stars and bringing in a fresh wave of talent to challenge Celtic's dominance.

Today's confirmation of Jack Butland's departure to Hull City for a fee of £3m is the clearest signal yet that the old guard is history. McInnes is building a younger, hungrier squad, but it is a massive gamble that could easily backfire if the new recruits fail to gel quickly.

The headline news from Ibrox is the growing transfer saga around Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin. After helping Belgium scrape through to the last-16 at the World Cup, Raskin has emerged as a prime target for Real Betis in La Liga.

The Spanish club is exploring a deal, while two unnamed Italian clubs are also sniffing around the midfielder. McInnes admitted to Sky Sports News today that keeping him will be an uphill battle.

Rangers fans are bracing for a summer of high-stakes transition. With five signings already through the door and several high-profile exits confirmed, the squad that starts the season against Dundee United on July 31 will look radically different. McInnes knows the pressure is on, and any slip-up in the opening weeks will have the Ibrox faithful demanding immediate answers.

The Butland gamble and the goalkeeping reset

Jack Butland's exit to Hull City is a bitter pill for many supporters to swallow. The 33-year-old goalkeeper was a model of consistency last season, playing every single minute of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

Hull have snapped him up on a two-year contract, leaving Rangers to find a new number one. Selling a proven international keeper for a modest sum feels like a cut-price deal; replacing that quality is never cheap.

"The last few years playing at an incredible club like Rangers, somewhere I hold close to my heart, meant it had to be something really enticing to change that."

Those were Butland's parting words as he finalized his move back to England. The veteran was settled in Glasgow, but the Championship lure proved too strong. His departure leaves a void in leadership and experience.

"The European nights and all the experience I gained up in Scotland, and my experience prior to that, are going to set me up perfectly for the challenge ahead this year."

Pandur steps into the breach

To fill the gap, Rangers signed Ivor Pandur from Hull earlier this week. It is a direct swap, but Pandur has massive shoes to fill.

At 26, the Croatian goalkeeper has talent but lacks the authority Butland brought to the backline. If Pandur struggles early on, McInnes will face heavy criticism.

The return of Allan McGregor

Adding to the goalkeeping shake-up, Allan McGregor is returning to Ibrox as the club’s new goalkeeping coach. McGregor replaces Sal Bibbo, who left during the staff cleanout.

McGregor is a Rangers legend with over 500 appearances, but hiring former players for key coaching roles often feels like cheap fan service. McInnes is banking on McGregor’s demands for high standards to rub off on Pandur and the rest of the defensive unit.

The fight to keep Nicolas Raskin

Nicolas Raskin’s stock has never been higher. The Belgian midfielder was a bright spot in a national team that struggled during their World Cup group stage.

That form has attracted serious interest from Spain, with Real Betis leading the charge. Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly eager to bring Raskin to Seville, and the player may find the prospect of La Liga football hard to turn down.

"Yes, possibly, but these are things that I don't know, that you can't control,"

That was McInnes' frank assessment when asked if Raskin could be on his way out of Glasgow. The manager is realistic about the pull of top European leagues, especially after a major tournament. Rangers cannot match the financial power of La Liga, meaning a substantial bid will likely force their hand.

"The World Cup is a great stage and obviously Nico [Raskin] has done well. There will be natural progression for a lot of players."

La Liga and Serie A giants circle

If Raskin departs, it will rip the heart out of the Rangers midfield. He provides the energy and ball-carrying ability that McInnes needs to implement his high-tempo style. Losing him so close to the start of the domestic season would represent a major setback for the club's title ambitions.

"A lot of players aren't going to get guaranteed game time here, and they might be better served going elsewhere to find that, but these discussions are ongoing."

McInnes is prepared for the eventuality of more departures, acknowledging that squad rotation will leave some players unhappy. The club is currently in a holding pattern, waiting for the World Cup dust to settle before finalizing their squad. With many clubs yet to return to pre-season training, the transfer market is moving slowly.

"A lot of clubs aren't even back yet because of the World Cup, so sometimes these things can take a bit longer, and there's no doubt we've got good players here who could be of interest."

A new-look midfield and the SPFL transfer scene

Rangers have not been idle in the market, bringing in Dan Neil on a three-year contract after his Sunderland contract expired, as reported by Sky Sports. The 24-year-old midfielder was in advanced talks with Southampton, but Rangers swooped in to hijack the deal.

Former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe reportedly spoke to Neil to convince him that Glasgow was the right move for his career. Neil spent last season on loan at Ipswich Town and captained Sunderland to the Premier League in the 2024/25 season, bringing leadership to the middle of the park.

Dan Neil chooses Ibrox

Neil joins a list of arrivals that includes defender Ben Godfrey on loan from Serie A side Atalanta, former player Ross McCrorie, and Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland.

Godfrey’s arrival on loan is an intriguing one, but it also raises questions. Once a highly-rated Premier League defender, Godfrey struggled for minutes in Italy; this loan is a make-or-break moment. Shankland, meanwhile, offers proven SPFL goalscoring ability, but at 30, he is a short-term fix.

Maswanhise and Graham on the move

Across the rest of the league, Motherwell are bracing for bids for Tawanda Maswanhise. The 23-year-old striker was the top scorer in the division last season with 17 goals, drawing attention from Anderlecht and Celtic, per the latest Sky Sports updates.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is reportedly a big admirer of the Zimbabwean, though no official approach has been made. Dundee have also cashed in on defender Luke Graham, selling the 22-year-old to Stoke City for a club-record fee of two million pounds, proving that Scottish talent remains in high demand.

McInnes is under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead. Rebuilding a squad while trying to close the gap on Celtic is a delicate balancing act. If his new signings fail to click, or if Raskin follows Butland out the door, the manager will find himself under intense pressure.