“In terms of the amount of signings, there is no set number on it. There will be some players within the club who need to be sold and they will be replaced. But you could say now there will comfortably be five new faces in the summer. But if we were to sell we would replace like-for-like in terms of positions. So it could be any number.”

With the summer closing in, there is a tendency to read a lot into every word Michael Beale says. In truth, a lot of the manager's messaging is just standard words said at a press conference.

There's no need to overanalyse everything because, at a press conference, there's plenty of questions to be answered. Or maybe this writer is turning 40 later in the year and having followed Rangers for so long, I'm finally starting to relax!

I’m not in the slightest bit concerned about the summer and that’s not a reflection of the size of the task at hand. But because if any man is placed to oversee a squad transition at the club, it's Beale.

Whether branded a rebuild or, as the manager calls it, a revamp, change is on the horizon. 

If Beale does envision five players coming in, they need to be five like Todd Cantwell and Nico Raskin, with the same personality, ability and drive. Then we will be doing well. 

A goalkeeper, centre-back, midfielder, winger and forward, all possessing the level of Rangers' January arrivals, would represent a very decent summer indeed.

So far, Beale's put together an impressive results run, providing a base to build from. There needs to be a lot of extremely smart work moving forwards to progress that. Identifying players able to contribute and fit in immediately while also handling the pressure of Rangers is an interesting challenge.

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If the upcoming recruitment is Beale-led then bring it on. He knows a player and his spotting of Calvin Bassey in a youth game proves that more than anything. The identification of Cantwell is a more current example given the midfielder's strong start to life at Ibrox.

It’s a big summer, perhaps even a crossroads. It becomes bigger if Ryan Jack, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent don’t stay. The can cannot be kicked down the road by retaining the services of the likes of Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield and Filip Helander. 

On that topic, Beale's got a job to streamline this squad alongside additions. With others like Borna Barisic and John Lundstram entering the final year of their contracts, big decisions don't only extend to those whose deals expire this summer.

That's the task. Ensuring that heart, desire, ability and determination are brought in while also being retained.

It’s an exciting job because Beale almost has a blank canvas and supporters can expect more new faces. The way Raskin and Cantwell have re-energised the current climate provides reason for optimism. 

I have every faith in Michael Beale but that counts for very little. I've trusted many others before. The job ahead is a big one. Beale has a base to build from and a clear idea of where he is going, but at Rangers, there is little margin for error.

The start has been strong but with a League Cup failure in the rear mirror alongside three Old Firm games to come, positivity will only continue if success extends to those matches. 

That’s the reality of life at Rangers and that’s the pressure any manager here lives under. Failure in those matches will result in big questions. That might be unfair in the broader context but not in isolation of individual matches against a rival.

Simultaneously, there's a clear path forward with lots of hurdles and challenges along the way that require navigating. 

That resumes against Dundee United come Saturday and then only gets tougher. All the while the reality of this summer's huge job continues to be addressed in the background. 

It’s a very big job with very big demands, but Beale knew that anyway didn’t he?