Ibrox gaffer preparing for all January transfer window possibilities

GIOVANNI van Bronckhorst will prepare for all eventualities in the transfer window, but insisted he did not want to end January with a smaller squad.

The likes of Joe Aribo and Nathan Patterson have been linked with English Premier League clubs, while Connor Goldson is free to talk to other teams and Alfredo Morelos is entering the final 18 months of his contract having never hidden his intention to move on.

Rangers also have several fringe players who have rarely featured this season including Brandon Barker, Jermain Defoe and Jack Simpson.

Previous boss Steven Gerrard stressed he had not been given money to spend in recent transfer windows, so any incomings could depend on players leaving. Van Bronckhorst is keen to keep his numbers up whatever transpires.

He said: “I don’t expect anything, we just have to be prepared. That’s the most important thing as a coach, that you are prepared for anything that can happen.

“Maybe nothing happens, maybe a lot happens, I don’t know, we will see in the end where we are as a club.

“As a coach you don’t want to end the window and have a smaller squad than you started, so we have to be prepared to decide what to do whatever comes our way.”

Rangers maintained a six-point lead in the cinch Premiership going into the extended winter break by beating St Mirren 2-0 at Ibrox on Boxing Day.

The result made it eight wins and one draw, in a Europa League dead rubber in Lyon, since the former Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder replaced Gerrard.

The 46-year-old said: “For players it is never easy when there is a switch of manager during the season, but I think we all did well.”

Joe Aribo has been linked with top sides in England