Sources: Derek McInnes wants to overhaul Rangers squad after groundwork laid for signing blitz
Derek McInnes is keen to overhaul the squad he has inherited at Rangers this summer after the club had already laid the groundwork for a signing blitz, sources have told Football Insider.
McInnes has taken over a Gers' side that fell apart towards the end of last season under Danny Rohl.
They won just one of their five post-split fixtures to fall well behind McInnes' Hearts and eventual title winners Celtic in third place.
The 54-year-old is tasked with restoring the club to their former glory, starting with a huge summer window that they must get right.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, McInnes wants sufficient backing from the Gers' chiefs to build a squad capable of winning the title in 2027.
They had already moved to snap up Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland, who was integral to his plans at Tynecastle, before appointing McInnes.
Several more big-name signings are set to follow, with new attackers and a long-term successor to James Tavernier on their radar too.
Derek McInnes wants sizeable transfer kitty to build a title-winning squad
Gers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has insisted that they will place a particular focus on building a Scottish core under McInnes this summer.
It remains to be seen how much they are willing to spend to compete with Celtic and Hearts, especially considering Rangers' lack of Champions League football and the funds that come with it.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "Rangers had transfer plans in place even before the departure of Danny Rohl and the arrival of Derek McInnes, and I don't think they will have changed too much as well.
"McInnes want backing in the market to go out there and strengthen the Rangers squad. He wants his own [signings] to build a side capable of challenging for the Scottish Premiership title next season."
Rangers set to complete Vaclav Cerny move for around £5million
Several forward signings will be on McInnes' agenda, and Rangers look as if they are closing in on the first permanent signing of his reign as boss.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Rangers are well-placed to re-sign Cerny for around £5m in the coming weeks.
The versatile Czech star registered 18 goals and nine assists in 52 games for the Gers while on loan from Wolfsburg in 2024-25.
He joined Besiktas permanently last summer and impressed in the Super Lig, but is open to returning to Ibrox and looks set to do so soon.