STEWART ROBERTSON hopes Rangers can continue to clear the decks at Ibrox and ship out some of Steven Gerrard’s unwanted squad players this summer.

The Light Blues Managing Director has confirmed that Gerrard remains in the market for another addition to his ranks that would take his signings to nine this term.

But Rangers must also focus on trimming the first team pool in the coming weeks after a host of players were told they have no future at Ibrox.

Winger Daniel Candeias completed his move to Genclerbirligi on Monday as he put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal after a fee of around £250,000 was agreed with the Turkish Super Lig side.

And keeper Jak Alnwick could also be heading for the exit door as Blackpool, who last week signed Ryan Hardie, look to complete a move for the Englishman.

Rangers still need to get Gerrard signings Kyle Lafferty and Eros Grezda off the wage bill, while the likes of Jason Holt and Joe Dodoo remain on the books and have no part to play this term.

Gerrard has added strength and depth to his squad so far this summer but Robertson knows there has to be players heading in the other direction before the close of business.

He said: “The manager has been quite open in that the squad is bigger than what would allow him to give everyone game time.

“Therefore, some of the boys will want to get game time elsewhere. We are working with a couple of players at the moment to see if they can get something with other clubs, but there is nothing further to report yet.

“Signing players is a bit like picking shares. You hope you will get them all right but you don’t tend to.

“There is an element of portfolio approach and you just have to hope you don’t make too many mistakes.

“It’s very difficult when you sign players because they might be coming from a foreign country, with or without their family. So there can be questions about how their family settles or whether they miss them.

“There are a whole host of factors that go into someone being a success at a club, beyond just that individual’s footballing ability.

“Some of the unknowns can be the things that trip someone up and that’s why it might not work in certain cases.”

While Rangers are keen to move on a handful of unwanted players this summer, there are two key performers in particular that supporters would be reluctant to see leave Ibrox ahead of the new Premiership campaign.

Captain James Tavernier has been linked with a move to Newcastle United in recent days, while Frankfurt are the latest club to be credited with an interest in Alfredo Morelos.

It would take significant fees for Rangers to consider doing business for either of their prized assets and Robertson is pleased to have added to the worth of the Light Blues squad in recent years.

He said: “If you look at the club’s business model and where we are today, really there wasn’t a lot of value in the squad.

“A lot of the money has gone into creating value in those areas. I am not saying it will be this window or the next window, but at some point the business model is that there has to be transfer income built into that.

“If you look at clubs at our level through the ECA, it is split into sub-divisions. At sub-division three level, the average percentage of the revenue that comes from transfer income is 28 per cent.

“Last year we had about seven per cent. If we are to compete on a level playing field without relying on the investors and the board, that is a key part of the business model, as is bringing players through the Academy.”

Swedish international Filip Helander became the latest addition to Gerrard’s first team pool earlier this month when he completed a £3million move from Bologna.

The defender has been added to the Gers ranks for the Europa League second qualifying round clash with Progres Niederkorn as Jake Hastie drops out of the squad.

Helander is the biggest signing of the summer so far at Ibrox but Rangers remain in the market to add to their options once again.

Robertson said: “Yes, Steven said that because that is the case. It is down to the guys identifying who they might want to bring in and bringing that to the board. But absolutely.”