Derek McInnes has wasted little time putting his stamp on Rangers since taking charge at Ibrox, overseeing a busy summer transfer window that has seen seven new faces arrive. Three of those signings are central midfielders — yet Rangers already had six in that position before McInnes wrote a single cheque. The result is a midfield department so densely populated it would give any squad planner a headache.

A crowded engine room

The arrival of Cammy Devlin from Heart of Midlothian, Dan Neil from Sunderland, and 20-year-old Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan Belgrade — where the Serbia youth international had already been given the captain's armband — has transformed what was already a competitive area into something close to gridlock. Devlin, 28, who worked under McInnes at Tynecastle and was central to Hearts' title challenge last season, joined on a free transfer and knew precisely what he was walking into. At his first press conference, he broke into a wry smile when asked whether he expected to walk straight into the starting eleven.

"It is a massive challenge when you come to a club of this size with a history of winning," Devlin said. "There's a lot of great midfielders. The quality in the squad, which I already knew because I played against them, is really high."

The Raskin question

Much of the context for this midfield scramble traces back to Nicolas Raskin. The Belgium international has long been at his most dangerous pushing forward but impressed enormously playing just in front of the defence at the World Cup, which has only heightened reported interest from top-five European leagues. Raskin has made no secret of his ambitions, and McInnes appears to be building in contingency — Devlin, Neil, Dragojevic and Scotland international Connor Barron all offer cover for that pivotal holding role should the Belgian depart before the window closes.

Tochi Chukwuani, still adapting after joining from Sturm Graz in January, also competes in a similar area. Add in Mohamed Diomande — more of a box-to-box presence whose second full season at Ibrox saw his form dip — and the picture becomes even busier. Attacking midfielders Thelo Aasgaard, fresh from the World Cup with Norway, and Nedim Bajrami, who has struggled to nail down a regular berth over two years at the club, operate in a different register and are less direct competition for the holding spots.

The depth question

Whether all these options represent genuine squad strength or a structural imbalance is a fair question. Three players who spent last season on loan at Toronto FC, Aberdeen and Raith Rovers — Jose Cifuentes, Lyall Cameron and Paul Nsio respectively — have returned without having staked an overwhelming case for involvement at this level. For that trio, the window still represents an opportunity to prove themselves or find a suitable move elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Rangers are reportedly still being linked with Ryan Fosso, a defensive midfielder currently at Sturm Graz, as well as Jens Hjerto-Dahl of Tromsø, who is understood to be a more attack-minded profile. McInnes has acknowledged he hopes to complete further signings before the Premiership campaign kicks off on Friday evening with a trip to Dundee United — though he has indicated those additions would not necessarily be midfielders.

Devlin's mindset

For Devlin, the competition is nothing new. He was offered a contract extension at Tynecastle and had interest from Major League Soccer, yet when McInnes called, the answer was straightforward — even knowing the squad depth he would encounter. "I've never got anywhere in life without just fighting as hard as I can," he said. "It wasn't easy to get here. The same as the national team — it's hard to get there."

That attitude will serve him well. Whether McInnes can give adequate minutes to Devlin, Neil, Barron, Dragojevic, Chukwuani and potentially Raskin — and keep spirits high among those left waiting — will be one of the more interesting managerial tests of the Scottish Premiership season.

Frequently asked

How many central midfielders do Rangers have in their squad?
Rangers have a large group of central midfielders following their summer recruitment. Three of their seven summer signings — Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic — play in that position, and they already had several on their books including Nicolas Raskin, Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande and Tochi Chukwuani.
Is Nicolas Raskin leaving Rangers?
Raskin has expressed a desire to move to a top-five European league and his impressive World Cup performances are expected to attract interest. Rangers appear to be preparing for his potential departure by bringing in several defensive midfielders this summer, though no confirmed exit had been announced at the time of writing.
When do Rangers start the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season?
Rangers begin their Scottish Premiership campaign away to Dundee United on Friday evening.