Brian Laudrup has warning for Rangers new signings

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Steven Gerrard has brought in seven new signings at Rangers, and more are expected.

Former Rangers star Brian Laudrup has warned Steven Gerrard’s summer recruits that they must gel instantly if the club are to have any chance of catching Celtic, in an interview with BBC Sport.

Gerrard, 38, has got to work straight away at Ibrox, bringing in a whole host of new players as the club finish their training camp in Andalucia ahead of the Gers’ first pre-season friendly against Bury on July 6.

The Liverpool and England legend has brought in goalkeeper Allan McGregor, defenders Jon Flanagan, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic, and midfielders Scott Arfield, Ovie Ejaria and Jamie Murphy.

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The club are also expected to bring in even more, with loan deals touted for Roma striker Umar Sadiq and Angers midfielder Lassana Coulibaly. Laudrup, who played for Rangers between 1994 and 1998, urged the new stars to gel.

“If you go out and get seven or eight new players, they need time to gel and the problem is time is an issue when you’re playing in Scotland with a very good Celtic side,” Laudrup said. “Rangers have to be up for it right from the start.”

McGregor is set to rival Wes Foderingham for the number one spot while the departures of David Bates and Russell Martin are likely to see Katic and Goldson form a new partnership at centre-back.

Ejaria and Arfield face a fight on their hands with the Gers boasting plenty of central midfielders, while Flanagan will have to prove he can rediscover his top form that saw him earn one England cap.

Rangers begin their competitive campaign under Gerrard on July 12, as they face Macedonian side FK Shkupi in the first qualifying round of the Europa League at Ibrox.