Rangers: Derek McInnes’ in-tray as ex-Hearts boss takes over at Ibrox

With Tavernier gone, along with loan signings Nasser Djiga, Jayden Meghoma, Max Aarons and Derek Cornelius, building from the back seems like an essential place to start.

Rangers conceded 43 Premiership goals last season – more than Celtic, Hearts and Motherwell and one fewer than Hibernian.

Towering centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez grew in stature in his debut campaign and Tuur Rommens added tenacity and thrust at left-back following his January arrival from Belgium.

Dujon Sterling provides aggression and athleticism but in three seasons at Ibrox has played just under half the games that Tavernier, eight years his senior, managed in the same time period.

Like Sterling, John Souttar has had injury problems and has another year to run on his contract. The Scotland centre-half was sidelined for 10 games last term and, when fit, started just two of the last nine.

New defensive recruits are certain but Souttar can take heart from the way Craig Halkett resurrected his career under McInnes, with Stuart Findlay another seasoned Scottish campaigner to flourish while working with the new Rangers boss. McInnes’ tendency to field a back three may also suit Souttar, having looked more comfortable in that system with both Hearts and Scotland.

Rangers’ last title celebration in 2020-21 was built on a stingy defence leaking a mere 13 goals and a solid back four was the bedrock of success during the Walter Smith reigns, the first of which featured McInnes as a player.