Rangers boss Mark Warburton has backed head of recruitment Frank McParland, explaining the former Liverpool chief scout is doing hard work with his team ahead of the January transfer window.

McParland has received criticism from some Rangers fans due to the club's transfer business in the summer, which has so far not resulted in a Gers side slugging it out at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.




Big summer signing Joey Barton appears set to leave the club, midfielders Jordan Rossier and Matt Crooks have suffered with injuries, Clint Hill has just turned 38 years old and big-money arrival Joe Garner is not yet a guaranteed starter.

Just three of the starting eleven for Rangers' midweek draw with St Johnstone were summer arrivals, but Warburton is continuing to place his trust in McParland and his team, who he says are running over every eventuality to be ready for the winter window.
 


"We have a strong squad and we added in the summer, and the squad is still gelling in. Right now, it’s just a case of dialogue", Warburton told a press conference.

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"We target all day, every day. Frank McParland and his team will be looking at potential targets – what do we need to. 

"What happens if player A, B and C is approached by another club and all the various scenarios.

"What we need to do, is have options in place. If we need to move are those options in place and are they viable to us?

"January is always a more difficult window than the summer – everyone knows that.

"But, it is important to have the targets identified and then be in a position to move if and when the situation arrives."

Rangers sit just fifth in the Premiership at present and face a home game against Kilmarnock this coming weekend.

The Gers, who went out of the League Cup at the hands of Celtic last weekend, will be keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible as pressure continues to mount on Warburton.