PEDRO Caixinha believes his primary objective in the summer will be to restore balance to a mismatched Rangers squad. The Portuguese is set to embark on a sizeable rebuilding mission and plans on shortly telling his players which of them will be part of his plans next season and which are free to go. Bringing better balance to the squad will be at the heart of his strategy.

“What is the main ingredient that we require? First of all, balance,” he said. “When we arrived here and watched the players, you see all the positions on the pitch like a map and we have gaps there.

“We have no two players for one position. We want a squad with three goalkeepers and 22 or 23 outfield players but those players can compete for positions in order to be more competitive.

“I have the core and an idea about the starting XI but I want them to be competitive and I can only be competitive if I have players fighting for the positions.

“We need more muscle in our style of play, to explore the wide areas more, to have quicker and more aggressive players up front. We need a strong midfield definitely, and we also need to have really combative players at centre-half. We’re looking for players with international experience - that's what this club is used to, and that’s what we are looking for in the core of the team.”

Caixinha, whose side takes on Partick Thistle at Firhill this afternoon, will only work with players – both in the current squad and potential signings – who show the requisite hunger to play for Rangers.

“I'm not going to bring a single player who has doubts whether he wants to move here or not,” he said. “We had one player who received a clear offer, and he started what I call an auction by saying, 'OK, but I have this offer and this offer and that offer…' So I said, 'Go. Enjoy your life. I wish you the best. Here is not going to be where you play'.

“I want players who really want to come. Players who are calling me all the time saying they want to be here with me. I want players to come here and become idols. I know what the fans want and what I want. I want those type of players at Ibrox.”

Caixinha will meet many of his players this week including Barrie McKay who, prior to the new manager’s arrival, had turned down the offer of an extended contract.

“Barrie is a nice guy and a nice player. We are assessing him and next week we will have a final answer. I need to sit with him, I need to sit with the board and make one decision.

“It’s not a question of whether he wants to sign a new contract or not. Maybe I could say someone is not going to remain with us and they could say they were thinking about moving so that would be perfect. I only want people here that are loving and feeling passionate about the club. That want to be here and win for the club.”

Rangers will return to pre-season training on June 5 and will remain in Scotland rather than travelling abroad ahead of their likely return to European football on June 29. It will mean no prospect of an immediate honeymoon for Lee Wallace who is set to get married on June 11, the day after the Scotland versus England game.

“Lee is going to be off on June 11 and the day after. There is not going to be a honeymoon. He will have the night of the wedding.”

Meanwhile, Jon Toral has said he will speak with Arsenal in the summer before deciding on his next move. The on-loan Rangers midfielder – out injured with a rib injury - has a year left on his contract at the Emirates.

“I will go back to Arsenal, see where I stand there and what my next step is,” he said. “It’s the last year of my contract so there’s not usually any loans in that situation because the season after I would be a free agent."