Rangers transfer cull not finished yet as Philippe Clement could get ruthless despite gaping squad holes

It might be holiday season but Philippe Clement won’t need the factor 50 on one side of his face while his mobile phone is glued there.

Mind you, it’s unlikely the Rangers gaffer is getting much time to catch some rays when he has an in-tray back at Ibrox that makes Mount Wank at Scotland’s Euros HQ at look like a molehill. Clement and recruitment chief Nils Koppen are furiously wheeling and dealing but it might be an idea for some of the current Gers squad to keep their phones handy when they are on the beach as well.

There is every chance they won’t be sticking the suitcases back in the loft when they get back to Glasgow. There’s a lot being made of the big rebuild in Govan. Mohamed Diamonde and Oscar Cortes are already sorted, Jefte and Clinton Nsiala have arrived early ahead of a hefty queue at the Ibrox check-in desk in the coming weeks.

Connor Barron could be the next one and the out-of-contract Aberdeen midfielder would be a nifty capture. The wee man is a handy player who will only get better and it’s little wonder Gers face a bit of competition to get him. Barron would be a solid long-term capture and the fact he’s Scottish definitely helps in terms of the European squad lists.

But would he go straight into the side? Right now he probably would as there are not many others left in that role, with Ryan Jack and John Lundstram offski. In the short-to-medium term though, you would think gaffer Clement will be looking to further beef up his engine room in the coming weeks. Arrivals will be busy – but the departure lounge could be just as packed.

The exits haven’t finished with the retention list, that’s for sure. Clement has had several months to assess the squad now and, while he was never going to slaughter anyone in public, you got the sense he wasn’t all that impressed with everything that he has seen.

The big Belgian could be tempted into a total clear out – where no one is safe. You would imagine he wouldn’t mind keeping the likes of James Tavernier and Connor Goldson around to give him at least some continuity going into a massive transitional period. But would he barricade the doors at Auchenhowie if clubs came in for the pair? Doubtful.

The Saudi talk around the pair just won’t go away and if some decent dosh is on the table then it would make sense for all parties to bundle it up and wish everyone all the best.

Dujon Sterling might have been one of the bright spots of last term, in about seven different positions, but at some point he’s going to need a decent run in his proper role at right-back. There’s yet to be anything concrete for the duo yet so it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see them in the starting line up for the big kick-off in August.

At this stage it would be a major shock if Todd Cantwell is alongside them. The writing isn’t just on the wall for the playmaker – it’s on billboards and plastered all over social media.

At least he’ll see it on the latter. Cantwell is a player – but he just doesn’t look a Clement player. He was left out at Celtic Park at the end of last season and while he started in the Scottish Cup Final, there was always a feeling it was under duress for the manager.

Cantwell’s days look numbered and it’s hard to see much of a future for Tom Lawrence and Kieran Dowell either. They have looked the part at times but never really built up a head of steam due to injuries. Sam Lammers is also heading for the exit and while Jose Cifuentes is on a 12-month loan in Brazil, you wouldn’t bet on seeing him in these parts again.

Gers fans won’t be crying in their pints at the prospect of losing most of that lot, but every departure leaves a hole needing filling in the squad. And right now Clement’s squad has more holes than Rab C Nesbit’s vest.

It’s no wonder those same punters are feeling a tad nervous right now. It’s the fear of the unknown. We’re only in June so there’s no need for sleepless nights just yet but the work required by the gaffer and Koppen is pretty ominous.

There’s not much margin for error either. Rangers will be right at the coalface come August with Champions League qualifiers and crucial Premiership games.

Clement can’t afford to be playing catch up early on after those damaging derby defeats towards the end of last term. The Belgian needs time but he knows he won’t get much of it – which is why life is far from a beach for the Gers boss right now.