Pedro Caixinha targets two or three more players for Rangers

Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha wants to recruit 'roughly' two or three more players during the transfer window.

Graham Dorrans of Norwich City is expected to move to Rangers. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

One of those is expected to be midfielder Graham Dorrans, pictured, but the Portuguese coach would not be drawn on reports that Norwich City have accepted a £1.3 million bid from the Ibrox club for the 30-year-old.

It seems likely he will become the club’s ninth signing of the summer window, with a bid closer to the £1m Hearts are seeking for Jamie Walker also a possibility.

Caixinha revealed four of Rangers’ close season arrivals are earmarked to start tonight as Ibrox hosts continental competition for the first time in six years. The opening leg of the Europa League first round qualifier against Luxembourg side Progres Niederkorn should bring debuts for defender Fabio Cardozo, midfielder Ryan Jack, winger Dalcio and forward Alfredo Morelos. Carlos Pena, Eduardo Herrera and Daniel Candeias may appear from the bench, while Bruno Alves is unavailable as he was playing for Portugal in last night’s Confederations Cup semi-final defeat against Chile in Russia.

Caixinha expects to have a team’s worth of new players by the close of the new window and is prepared to be ruthless in making way for these fresh faces – Andy Halliday having moved to Azerbaijan club Gabala on loan, while Barrie McKay is now training with the club’s under-20s.

Asked about McKay’s status, the Rangers coach said: “If you have the standards to keep, or even to raise those standards and defend those standards, you’ll be receiving one chance to stay on. If not, life goes on.”

Life will go on with a senior squad of 24 players, with such as Harry Forrester, Joe Dodoo and Rob Kiernan expected to be casualties.

“The players know what I spoke about on an individual basis and that’s what matters to me. They know what I want from them, or the reason why I am not counting on them.

“The plan says a couple more [players will come in], so let’s see. I want a small squad. I want a squad with three official goalkeepers and one or two more from the youth system. And a maximum of 21 or 22 outfield players. I want our squad, first of all, to be competitive here. In order to be even more competitive when we play against an opponent.”