Gio van Bronckhorst insists Rangers stand ready if top stars are lost as he aims to avoid particular January scenario

Gio van Bronckhorst insists he won’t allow his Rangers squad to be weaker at the end of the January transfer window – even if some of his stars get snatched.

The Ibrox gaffer knows several sides are on the trail of his top assets and he’s braced for a fight to keep his key performers next month.

Record Sport revealed Southampton are sweet on Joe Aribo, while Everton remain interested in Nathan Patterson and Ryan Kent is on the radar of several clubs in England.

Several other Gers players are on watchlists across Europe, with Serie A sides among the clubs keeping tabs on Ianis Hagi, Borna Barisic has suitors and Alfredo Morelos’ return to form could reignite a chase for the frontman.

Meanwhile Connor Goldson is free to talk to clubs as he enters the final six months of his Ibrox contract.

© Perthshire Picture Agency (PPA)

Van Bronckhorst has been told he’s under no pressure to sell any of his main men despite Gers taking a financial hit during the pandemic – and he’ll be allowed to move swiftly to bag replacements if there are any big departures.

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The Dutchman is understood to be keeping tabs on Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman and Bologna winger Andreas Skov Olsen.

Van Bronckhorst said: “I don’t expect anything. You just need to be prepared, that’s the most important thing as a coach.

“You need to be ready for anything. Maybe nothing will happen, maybe a lot, you never know.

“We will see where we are as a club at the end of the window.

© SNS Group

“As a coach you don’t want to get to the end of the window with a smaller squad than when you started.

“So we have to be prepared to decide what to do whatever comes our way.”

Rangers were left frustrated the winter break was brought forward and the trips to Aberdeen and Celtic were cancelled.

But the break will give some injured stars time to build fitness, with Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe on the comeback trail and long term absentee Filip Helander also making progress.