Rangers have got the man in they wanted on deadline day with Nicolas Raskin being unveiled as an Ibrox player.
He became Michael Beale's second signing as Rangers boss with the deal getting over the line before the window closes at midnight – joining Todd Cantwell among the Light Blues' new recruits. With the clock rapidly ticking down there could be more business on the agenda with the prospect of incomings and outgoings still arriving in Beale's inbox on Edmiston Drive.
Morgan Whittaker is to remain at Swansea City amid the Championship side's hardline stance over an exit as Russell Martin targets the promotion business, but there is plenty of names still on the agenda. Time may be against Rangers as they look to conduct some late business, but what are the key issues that the club will look to sort out before the window slams shut, and which are likely to run beyond February 1?
Record Sport takes a look at the key questions and if they will be answered before
Will Alex Lowry leave Rangers?
Beale has opened the door for Alex Lowry to leave Rangers on loan having struggled for game time this time. Injury has hampered his campaign, but since return to full fitness he has made just two appearances.
Reports suggested the 19-year-old had been offered to St Mirren for the remainder of the season, but those claims look set to come to nothing. It leaves Lowry facing a nervy wait over his first-team minutes ahead of his pre-deadline day warning.
The boss stated: "In the short-term he either has to fight to play or go and play somewhere else, but he’s got to fight to show that he is worthy of playing here at Rangers. I like when a young player has interest around them as long as it’s valid. Alex has some parts of his game that are excellent and other parts that a 19-year-old has to work on."
So will he get his move away from Rangers? We are rapidly approaching a conclusion for the playmaker.
Will Rangers sign a defender or a striker?
Raskin has arrived on deadline day to take Beale's January recruitment tally to two for the month following Cantwell's move from Norwich City. But could more new faces arrive before midnight?
The Ibrox boss left the door open for some a new addition up front as well as another centre-back, but insisted he was in no rush for the two positions. On the eve of deadline day, Beale stated: “If we don’t get the work done now, we’ll do more work in the summer. If we do more now, it will be less in the summer
“I’d like to add a midfielder who is powerful and can run. I’d like another centre-half, we’ll be looking at the goalie situation in the summer, and we’ll be looking for another No 9."
John Souttar and Filip Helander are both set to return to first-team action, and could be given a chance to prove themselves before Beale makes any defensive decisions.With Alfredo Morelos looking increasingly likely to remain a Rangers player until the end of the campaign, a new addition up front is likely to wait until the summer.
However, with Whittaker falling through the club may consider a late move to bolster the forward line. With the deadline rapidly approaching the key additions looks likely to wait until the next window at this stage. Fans will have their answer imminently.
Will James Sands return to the MLS?
James Sands reportedly has an £4.7m option to buy in loan his contract from New York City when his agreement comes to an end this summer. However, he has struggled to win over Beale since he took over from Gio van Bronckhorst.
Beale has admitted he could see loan deals come to an end if he does not want to keep players at the club long term. He said: "We have a couple of loan players in and have to decide whether we want to retain them long term.
"If we didn’t, maybe there will be an opportunity for them to go back as well. I want players who are going to be here for the long term who can compete right now to make us stronger but also in the long term."
Addressing Sands specifically, he added: "If one or two things happen in the next 24 hours it moves the goalposts for everyone. Obviously when new players come in it does move the goalposts and it gets competitive."
With the the Scottish Premiership transfer window set to close, another one is set to open across the Atlantic. The primary transfer window for MLS clubs runs from Tuesday, January 31 to Monday, April 24 - meaning a decision over Sands could run beyond deadline day.
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