Russell Martin may give full debuts to three new signings as Rangers prepare to take on Panathinaikos in their Champions League qualifier.
The Scottish side is set to face the Greek club in the second round of qualifying, with the first leg scheduled for 22 July at Ibrox. The return leg will follow a week later in Athens.
Martin is keen to bolster his squad before the tie, with Conor Coady, Max Aarons, and Kwame Poku all reportedly on Rangers’ radar.
Coady, Aarons, and Poku could make their first appearances at Ibrox
Time is tight for Rangers to finalise transfers before their Champions League campaign begins. Lyall Cameron has already arrived after signing a pre-contract earlier this year, and Martin is pushing to complete deals for both Aarons — expected to join on loan from Bournemouth — and free agent Poku.
Meanwhile, Rangers have approached Leicester City over a move for Coady, who may become Martin’s first official signing of the summer. Should these deals go through, all three players could be in line to make their Rangers debuts against Panathinaikos — especially with several departures leaving gaps in the squad.
Vaclav Cerny will return to Wolfsburg following his loan, and Ianis Hagi, Leon Balogun, and Tom Lawrence are all set to exit as their contracts expire, signalling a period of transition at Ibrox.
Rangers well-equipped to overcome Panathinaikos
While European ties are never easy, Rangers appear to have the quality needed to get past Panathinaikos. Although the futures of Jack Butland and James Tavernier remain uncertain, their experience — along with Coady, John Souttar, and Aarons on the left flank — could be vital.
Cameron is expected to slot straight into midfield, working alongside key players Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin in Martin’s evolving setup.
Cyriel Dessers may depart before the qualifiers, but given his recent scoring success in Scotland, he could still have an important role to play — perhaps his final contribution before moving on.
Poku and Hamza Igamane are also set to feature in what will be Martin’s first competitive lineup in charge.
