Rangers boss Danny Rohl admits he’s spoken to potential new recruits as he seeks to overhaul Ibrox squad in January transfer window
Rangers boss Danny Rohl has revealed he has already spoken to several transfer targets with a view to getting business done early in the January window.
The Ibrox club are understood to be in the market for at least three new players as they aim to reshape the squad under Rohl.
The German head coach has been working closely with the recruitment team, including Stig Inge Bjornebye, who was appointed as a consultant on an advisory basis earlier this week.
There is a quiet confidence around Rangers that they could yet haul themselves back into a title race in the second half of the season.
They face league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow afternoon aiming to cut the nine-point gap to Derek McInnes’ side, albeit Rangers still have a game in hand.
‘We have had talks with agents, with potential players, ongoing conversations, but this is normal,’ said Rohl.
Rangers manager Danny Rohl is hoping to add ‘a lot’ of players to his squad in January
Rangers appointed former Norway defender Stig Inge Bjornebye as a transfer ‘consultant’
Rohl has overseen an upturn in form domestically but is keen to reinforce his squad
‘The most important key is that I have a good conversation with my recruitment team and with my guys around me. Then we’ll make sure that we find the right players.
‘The wishes are to get a lot of players in on January 1. But this window will be about timing, that’s the first part, and the second thing is preparation.
‘We’re trying to prepare some things now. We speak to each other, we have good communication at the moment.
‘I am speaking with players at the moment, I’ve had some conversations. All the things that we have to do and then let’s see how quickly we can move forward.
‘All the players, they’ll come and help us soon. It’s good to have them here.’
Bjornebye was appointed on an advisory basis for an initial six-month period, with his first task being to inform the club’s recruitment efforts during the transfer window.
The former Liverpool and Blackburn player, who won 75 caps for Norway, has worked in recruitment roles previously with Rosenborg and Aarhus.
An Emmanuel Fernandez goal against Hibs was enough to claim victory in Rangers’ last outing
Confirming it will be a collective effort to identify new players, Rohl continued: ‘At the moment it’s a mix of us together.
‘I put some names to the recruitment team, they give me some recommendations. I watch the videos, I give them feedback. Then we look again at the data.
‘I try to have some talks to get a feeling for the players. I ask some questions about the expectation, if they really know what it means. I think this is part of my job.
‘I must say, this is the first time that I’m also looking exactly at this point.
‘Normally you speak just about the tactical things, but for me it’s also important to understand how they handle setbacks, how they handle pressure, how was the pressure in the past?
‘For me, this has been a big learning experience since I came here. It’s important. We’re in daily communication with each other.’
Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Tynecastle, Rohl confirmed that he will leave it late before making a call on the fitness of Bojan Miovski.
Striker Bojan Miovski could be missing again for Rangers as he battles to prove his fitness
Miovski missed the 1-0 win over Hibs on Monday night and has been nursing a slight knock after scoring three goals in his previous two games.
‘Lyall Cameron got an injection yesterday so will not be available,’ added Rohl. ‘Bojan is still a question mark, but we still have 48 hours, so let’s see.
‘It will be a tough game. Everything is on. Games like this are why we play football. We know we can make the next step, but we also won’t win the league on the weekend.
‘We’re facing a team that is top of the league. That’s good, that’s great, it’s the challenge we want.
‘There will be a great atmosphere in the stadium as well and we’re prepared for this and we are looking forward to it.’
