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🗣 “Impressive from the club” 🗣 “Now we can build around this players” Ranger Fc names three untouchable players in the squad to Derek Mclnnes as he agrees to join Rangers

Derek McInnes has been handed a major boost as he edges closer to becoming the next Rangers manager, with the club reportedly giving him a powerful assurance that could shape the entire direction of his new project at Ibrox.

In a development that has already sent waves through Scottish football, sources suggest that Rangers have informed McInnes that three of their most important players will not be sold under any circumstances this summer. Ryan Naderi, Bojan Miovski, and Nicolas Raskin have all been labelled “untouchable” as the club prepares for a crucial rebuilding phase under new leadership.

For McInnes, this kind of backing is significant. Taking over at Rangers is never a normal managerial appointment. It is a job defined by pressure, expectation, scrutiny, and constant demand for success. Every decision is magnified, every result analysed, and every transfer move debated.

So when a manager is told that key players will be protected, it changes everything.

It gives stability.

It gives structure.

And most importantly, it gives belief.

McInnes has built his reputation over many years in Scottish football, with successful spells at Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, and most recently a highly impressive campaign with Hearts. That season, Hearts pushed themselves into serious title contention, surprising many observers who expected them to struggle against the traditional dominance of Rangers and Celtic.

Instead, McInnes produced one of the most disciplined and organised teams in the league, earning admiration across the country and even strong consideration for Manager of the Year honours.

Now, that success has brought him to the door of Ibrox.

The timing is dramatic.

Danny Röhl’s expected departure to RB Salzburg has created a vacancy at one of the biggest clubs in Britain, and McInnes has quickly emerged as the leading candidate to take over. His experience as a former Rangers player adds another layer of connection, as he understands the expectations of the supporters and the weight that comes with the badge.

But what makes this potential appointment even more interesting is the level of control and support being promised behind the scenes.

The guarantee over Naderi, Miovski, and Raskin is not just a casual reassurance. It is a statement of intent.

Ryan Naderi, signed in January 2026 for around £4.7 million, is viewed as one of the club’s most exciting young talents. Still early in his Rangers career, he has already shown flashes of brilliance. His height, movement, and ability to hold up play give Rangers a different dimension in attack. Although still developing, the club clearly sees him as a long-term project rather than a quick sale.

For McInnes, having a young forward like Naderi already in place provides a valuable foundation to work with.

It means he is not starting from zero.

Alongside him, Bojan Miovski brings a very different profile. The North Macedonian striker is known for his physical presence, sharp finishing, and experience at the top level of Scottish football. He understands the league, knows how to score goals in difficult conditions, and has proven himself capable of delivering in big matches.

Miovski is not a gamble. He is a proven performer.

And in a league where margins are small, that experience is vital.

Then there is Nicolas Raskin, a midfielder who has quickly become one of the most important players at the club. The Belgian international brings energy, aggression, and technical quality in equal measure. He is the type of midfielder who can dictate tempo, break up opposition attacks, and also contribute in advanced positions when needed.

Raskin represents balance in the middle of the pitch, something every successful Rangers side needs.

Together, these three players form a core that McInnes can rely on.

And that is exactly what Rangers want to provide him.

The message from the board is clear: build around stability, not uncertainty.

In recent years, Rangers have often been forced into rebuilds, losing key players at crucial moments and struggling to maintain consistency across seasons. That cycle has affected performance levels and created instability in squad development.

By protecting key assets, the club is attempting to break that pattern.

McInnes, known for his structured and disciplined approach, is seen as the right man to take advantage of that stability.

Throughout his managerial career, he has often worked in environments where financial power was limited compared to rivals. At Aberdeen, he regularly competed against a dominant Celtic side with significantly greater resources. Yet he managed to build competitive teams that consistently challenged at the top end of the table.

His ability to organise players, improve squad cohesion, and maintain competitiveness over long seasons has been one of his strongest traits.

At Kilmarnock, he achieved similar results, guiding the club to promotion and European qualification, often outperforming expectations.

At Hearts, he took things even further.

Last season’s title challenge was not just a surprise, it was a statement. Hearts played with structure, discipline, and belief. They were difficult to break down and dangerous on the counter-attack. Even when results went against them, they remained competitive until the final stages of the season.

That consistency is what impressed Rangers most.

And now, with the possibility of taking charge at Ibrox, McInnes is being offered the chance to apply those same principles at a much bigger stage.

However, the decision is not straightforward.

Hearts still want to keep him.

Supporters at Tynecastle see him as the architect of their recent success, a manager who has brought identity, organisation, and belief back to the club. Losing him would be a major blow, especially after such a strong campaign.

But football has a way of creating difficult choices.

And the pull of Rangers is powerful.

For McInnes, the emotional connection also matters. As a former player, Ibrox is not just another job. It is a return to familiar ground, a chance to lead the club he once represented on the pitch.

That alone adds weight to the decision.

Inside Rangers, the focus is not only on appointments but also on structure. The club knows that simply changing managers is not enough. The squad must be stable, competitive, and capable of handling pressure from the very beginning of the season.

That is why the assurance over key players is so important.

It sends a message not just to McInnes, but to the entire squad and fanbase.

It signals ambition.

It signals planning.

And it signals belief in continuity.

There is also a financial aspect behind the decision. Rangers are aware that constant player turnover creates instability and increases long-term costs. By retaining core talent, the club can focus recruitment efforts more strategically rather than rebuilding entire departments every season.

For McInnes, this also makes the job more appealing.

Instead of walking into chaos, he would be inheriting a core group already capable of competing at a high level.

That changes the nature of the challenge.

It becomes about refinement, not reconstruction.

It becomes about pushing a team forward, not rebuilding from scratch.

As discussions continue behind the scenes, Scottish football remains on edge. The potential appointment of McInnes at Rangers is already being viewed as one of the most important managerial moves in recent years.

His track record suggests stability.

His experience suggests reliability.

And his recent success suggests readiness for a bigger challenge.

But the pressure at Rangers is unlike anything else in Scottish football.

Every season is measured by trophies.

Every performance is judged instantly.

And every manager is expected to deliver results quickly.

That reality will not change.

What may change, however, is the foundation he will be given to work with.

With Naderi, Miovski, and Raskin secured, McInnes would not be walking into uncertainty. He would be walking into a structure designed to support immediate competitiveness.

Whether that will be enough to convince him to accept the job remains to be seen.

But one thing is already clear.

Rangers are preparing seriously.

McInnes is their priority.

And the promise of stability over key players could be the decisive factor in shaping the next chapter at Ibrox.

If the deal is completed, it will not just be another managerial change.

It will be the beginning of a carefully constructed project built on trust, continuity, and ambition.

And in Scottish football, where pressure never disappears, that foundation might be exactly what determines success or failure.

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