'We need more quality': Nils Koppen drops exciting hint about Rangers' January transfer plans

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The January transfer window may still be a mere speck on the horizon but, for Rangers’ recruitment chief Nils Koppen, fail to prepare means you better start preparing to fail.

The former PSV Eindhoven and KRC Genk scout is already putting plans in place for future transfer windows at Ibrox.

And if Nils Koppen’s first summer at Rangers is anything to go by, expect the Ibrox giants to scour the market for left-field additions and bargain buys.

Koppen used his Eredivisie experience to bring in Robin Propper, Vaclav Cerny and Neraysho Kasanwirjo before August’s transfer deadline.

Rangers also signed the previously little-known Jefte and Hamza Igamane, with Koppen explaining that those deals driven by a desire to find value-for-money signings in markets with untapped potential.

Now, speaking to the club’s in-house media, Koppen confirmed that plans are already underway behind the scenes at Rangers as those January priorities are discussed and deliberated.

• READ MORE:Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present

Nils Koppen confirms January plans are underway at Rangers

"Last weekend, we had a meeting with the manager [Philippe Clement] and the football board, the board members, to determine the strategy about [future transfer windows],” Koppen explains.

"I think we've identified the positions at the moment we're a little bit weak in, understaffed. Maybe we need a bit more quality. So, we know that. We identified that.

"Now, it's about talking about budgets we can spend on that, going on the market and preparing ourselves for that window.

"On the other side, there's also the possibility that players will leave the club so we have to be ready to replace them where necessary. Again, we're working on that.

"The first step has been made. And now the recruitment team is active to identify these positions."

Koppen, by his own admission, seems to feel that there are a couple of positions in Clement’s squad where Rangers would benefit from a new face or two.

Rangers may need a James Tavernier replacement soon

The one that arguably stands out as the most obvious is at centre-forward. Danilo continues to suffer with injury issues. Clement also feels that Rangers newbie Hamza Igamane needs time to settle in, leaving the overworked Cyriel Dessers to start the vast majority of matches up top.

Tom Lawrence’s recent injury, meanwhile, meant Rangers surprisingly re-called Ianis Hagi to first-team duties. It remains to be seen, however, if Hagi is really considered a long-term member of Clement’s plans.

Rangers are arguably a little light at right-back too, even if the versatile Dujon Sterling and Kasanwirjo could step up when James Tavernier is absent for whatever reason.

With his 33rd birthday only days away, Clement is keen to ease the burden on Tavernier.

"Everybody can be replaced," he said after subbing the captain off on the hour market during that 4-1 Europa League defeat to Lyon. "Tav has played already a lot of games so not much to say about that.

“And Nana [Kasanwirjo] showed also last couple of weeks that he can be a really good replacement, and he’s defensively very solid so those are normal things.

“We’re going to play more than 60 games this season, so it’s impossible to play all these games. So in every good team in the world, our players change and sometimes start on the bench. It’s normal, whoever it is."