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Aberdeen 0-1 Rangers: Derek McInnes expecting transfer business after securing major first Premiership win

  /  autty

Derek McInnes has revealed Rangers are expecting to be busy in the final days of the transfer window after securing a much-needed first Scottish Premiership win of the season at Aberdeen.

Lawrence Shankland's second-half penalty secured a 1-0 victory at Pittodrie, easing some of the pressure on McInnes after a bruising week which saw Rangers knocked out of Europe by Jablonec.

But the Rangers boss says further business is expected before the window closes, with the club still looking to strengthen in attack and uncertainty remaining over the future of Nico Raskin.

"I think there will be," McInnes said when asked if Rangers would make more signings.

"I still think we're looking to replace Youssef [Chermiti]. It's a few weeks ago now, he went down, and we've been working really hard to try and bring in an added goal at the top end of the pitch.

"We could really do without one in. Hopefully, we've got some good news on that ahead of Wednesday."

McInnes also admitted Raskin could yet leave Rangers but reiterated that no formal offer had been received for the midfielder.

"Nico might be one that moves on. But I don't - as I said yesterday, there were no bids in for Nico," he said.

"But we all know how the last part of the window happens. It's normally the last couple of days that things really motor.

"I think once the window shuts, we hopefully we're as strong as we want to be, and as strong as we can be," he added.

"It just calms up and down in terms of clarity. A lot of players in the dressing room don't know if they're coming or going with that side yet, and that's just the way it is for managers to try and navigate that last part."

However, Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd believes Rangers have a significant issue to address in midfield, arguing they remain short of a player capable of linking the midfield and attack.

"You're asking yourself again what is going on with recruitment?" Boyd said.

"If there's not been any bids for Nicolas Raskin, get him in your team because he's the best midfielder by a country mile.

"I think they're still shy of someone who can connect the midfield and be creative," he added.

Raskin was left out of the starting XI at Pittodrie, with Connor Devlin and Dan Neil preferred in the middle of the park.

Boyd also questioned the size of Rangers' squad and believes players need to leave before further additions are made.

"Rangers must have over 30 players; it's not sustainable," he said. "They need to get five, six, seven out at least before the window closes.

"There are other areas of the team that need strengthening other than the forward areas."

That was particularly on display at Pittodrie, where Rangers struggled to create clear openings despite eventually finding the breakthrough from the penalty spot.

Their best opportunity before Shankland's goal came from a rapid counter-attack, with Gassama driving forward before Kim's effort was slowed by Marius Muller and Afeez Aremu racing back to clear off the line.