The dream XI Rangers could build

Glasgow Rangers need to make big changes to their squad to compete for the Scottish Premiership title next season after they fell ten points short of first place this year.

Danny Rohl has already moved to bring in Lawrence Shankland on a permanent deal from Hearts to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch, after the Scotland international scored 16 goals in the league in the 2025/26 campaign.

Signing the 30-year-old centre-forward has to just be the start for the Light Blues, though, as they need upgrades to their starting line-up across the pitch to build a dream XI for next season.

The goalkeeper and defence

Starting between the sticks, Jack Butland could be replaced as the number one. He has one year left on his contract and ended the 2025/26 season with seven errors that led to shots or goals in the Premiership, the joint-most in the division.

The Gers have been linked with Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles, who could cost £5m and worked with Rohl previously, after he only made one error that led to a shot or goal in the Championship this season.

Rangers already know that they have to replace James Tavernier at right-back, as he is leaving at the end of this month, and Hammarby right-back Hampus Skoglund could arrive for a fee of £2m.

At the heart of the defence, the Gers are reportedly leading the race to sign Dundee star Luke Graham as a left-sided centre-back. He is expected to cost in excess of £1.5m, possibly £2m or more, and would be an upgrade on John Souttar.

Bringing these signings in could leave Rohl with Charles in goal and a back four of Skoglund, Emmanuel Fernandez, Graham, and Tuur Rommens.

The midfield

With the German often favouring a 4-2-2-2 formation towards the end of the season, the midfield in this dream set-up only includes two central midfielders.

Tochi Chukwuani was signed in the January transfer window from Sturm Graz and could be relied upon to start in midfield again for the 2025/26 campaign, but the Gers may need to replace Nicolas Raskin.

The Scottish giants are reportedly braced for offers for the Belgium international, and they should target Motherwell star Elliot Watt as the ideal replacement for him.

He is valued at £3m by the Premiership side and that could be a bargain for the Light Blues based on his form in the league this season, as the 26-year-old ace ranked highly among his peers in a host of key metrics.

Watt would arrive at Ibrox as a proven Premiership performer who could hit the ground running as a replacement for Raskin, offering quality, defensive strength, and mobility in midfield.

The attack

Djedi Gassama and Shankland should be locked in as two starters from within the current squad in the attack, leaving one of the wide positions and one of the striker slots up for debate.

It was recently reported that the Ibrox giants want to bring Mikey Moore back to the club on a second loan after he spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and he would be an excellent addition.

The 18-year-old starlet racked up 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in the league, and could take his game to the next level in the 2026/27 season after a year of experience at senior level under his belt.

Bringing Moore back on loan would save the club millions on signing a new attacking midfielder to play behind the two centre-forwards, freeing up more funds to sign a potential replacement for Youssef Chermiti.

Galatasaray, Feyenoord, PSV, and Besiktas are reportedly eyeing up the number nine after he scored 15 league goals for the Gers this season, with a £25m asking price on the former Everton man’s head.

If the Portugal U21 international leaves for a record fee, Rangers should pay the reported £4m asking price for Motherwell centre-forward Tawanda Maswanhise, who won the Premiership Golden Boot with 17 goals.

The Zimbabwe international outscored Shankland and Chermiti in the league with his 17 strikes, netting 22 in all competitions, and would form a lethal pairing with the former Hearts captain at Ibrox.

There could be a lot of change at Ibrox this summer, which is a good thing after they fell ten points short of the title, and this dream new XI would include £16m worth of new signings, as well as the free signing of Shankland and a loan deal for Moore.

On paper, this XI looks like a big upgrade on what Rohl had to work with last season, given the added goal threat and proven Premiership performers signed, which is why the club should work hard to get these deals done.