MARK WARBURTON has revealed he is already planning to make moves in the January transfer window to further bolster his Rangers ranks.

The Ibrox boss has overhauled his squad in recent weeks and is ‘happy’ with his first team pool ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Warburton completed a loan deal for Arsenal starlet Gedion Zelalem earlier this week has been in constant contact with the Gers hierarchy as he looks for ways to strengthen Rangers on and off the park.

And he has already taken a longer term view to the rebuilding process as he looks to the future as well as the immediate challenges of extending Rangers’ winning run.

Warburton said: “It’s been fantastic. We have meetings afterwards with Andrew (Dickson) and Stewart (Robertson), they are the main points of contact for me.

“We have a meeting this afternoon, we talk every day, different emails, different subjects, staff, players, the infrastructure, equipment. So the dialogue’s really good.

“I’ve had no lack of support at all. It’s been really good.

“Communication’s key, communication’s really important.

“It’s important that they know what we’re thinking - in terms of the squad, in terms of players in and out, planning ahead, where we’re heading.

“We’re looking now to January, what we need to do, the squad profile, where we are light, we are strong, loans, how we use the loan market. So we have to keep planning all the time.

“We have targets we’re looking for in January. Again, we have to show teams here that we can look after the players.

“We have to show the environment is right, that we have that winning mentality.

“So many things that we have to do here. But, touch wood, we’re in good shape right now. It’s been a good start.”

While the focus has been on getting players into Ibrox for much of the summer, Warburton has also allowed several members of his squad to leave on loan or temporary deals.

Defenders Darren McGregor and Marius Zaliukas were both released from their contracts this week after falling down the Gers pecking order.

McGregor has subsequently joined Hibernian while Zaliukas remains on the lookout for a club and Warburton insists it was the best move for them and the club that they moved on ahead of the window closing.

He said: "They are both good pros and I won't say a bad word against them. But from my point of view I want players who are hungry.

“We train every day and I want to see desire and intensity. You want guys to know the first team is within touching distance. If it is not, then there is no point being there.

“And that may sound harsh and callous but it's the truth. In any industry you want a pathway. They are two really good guys who I am sure will go on and do really well, but we've done what we think is right for Rangers.

"Darren is a good professional. He was Player of the Year last year and he worked hard for Rangers in pre-season.

“If he was 20 or 21 it would be a different scenario. But at 29 or 30 he needs to be playing football and if he can't get it here I would rather be up front and honest now than have a player a few months down the line coming and knocking on my door and asking ‘why am I not playing?’ I hope we have done the right thing for all parties."