I’m aware of a photograph that has been circulating since Rangers played in Birmingham recently. The picture shows me talking to Philippe Clement, and it has gone viral. People have been stopping me on the street and rolling down their car windows, asking, “What did you say to him?” Unfortunately, I must disappoint you as the details of our conversation will stay between us. However, I can tell you we had a good chat about Glasgow Rangers and the direction of my old club.

Last week, I mentioned I was looking forward to attending Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United to see how the team was shaping up before the big kick-off at Tynecastle. Honestly, it wasn’t great. The team lost again on Wednesday night at St Andrew’s.

I understand the concern among the fans with the new season just days away. I’m a bit worried myself. But I’m not going to hit the panic button while the manager is making tough decisions. It’s not ideal to have so much uncertainty about the squad with only a week until the season starts. However, as I said last week, it’s not the time to jump to conclusions. Fans should wait until the transfer window closes at the end of August to see the full picture of this overhaul.

This is a significant overhaul, which is what Rangers have needed for years. People might say I’m being overly positive, and perhaps I am. But if we’ve wanted change, we shouldn’t start worrying when it begins to happen. We should wait until it’s complete.

I’d rather commend Clement for being bold enough to revamp the squad entirely. It would have been easier and safer to make a few tweaks and hope for the best. But Rangers needed major changes, and Clement is brave enough to tackle it head-on. Yes, I wish it had started back in May, but football is never that straightforward. The actions over the last few days indicate that progress is finally being made.

Connor Goldson’s transfer has been approved, Sam Lammers is heading back to Holland, Ianis Hagi seems to be returning to Fiorentina, James Tavernier might be next, and Clement has revealed that Todd Cantwell wants out too.

Cantwell’s transfer request came as a surprise, though it wasn’t entirely shocking. It’s been evident for months that he hasn’t been settled. I’m genuinely saddened by this turn of events because I’ve always rated him highly as a player. I still believe he has the potential to be a game-changer, and having met him a few times, I have nothing negative to say about him. He’s definitely not a bad apple.

Sometimes things don’t work out for various reasons, and it appears his time at Rangers is up. That’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. Hopefully, Rangers can get a good transfer fee for him, free up his wage, and use the money to help Clement acquire the players he wants.

Vaclav Cerny has signed on loan from Wolfsburg, and the Czech player looks like a good addition. With funds starting to come in, all eyes are on what will happen with Lawrence Shankland and whether Rangers can make an offer that tempts Hearts into a deal.

From what I hear, the interest in Shankland is genuine. The challenge will be agreeing on a price for a player who turns 29 next month and has only one year left on his contract. Both clubs have firm opinions on his market value, and they’re likely to differ significantly.

I hope they find a way to meet in the middle because this signing would be beneficial for all parties. I’ve been saying for a while now that Shankland has really grown on me as an all-around striker. It feels like this is the right time for him to make a big move.

I’m sure Clement has several targets in mind, including center halves, right backs, and midfield players, with many options to consider. However, proven goalscorers are harder to come by. And Shankland is right there, in front of him. I must be respectful as he is still a Hearts player, and they have every right to prioritize their own interests.

Hearts deserve credit for helping Shankland develop into the player he is today over the past few years. Kudos to Lawrence too, as he has worked hard to improve his game and become a Scotland international. But if a fee can be agreed upon that satisfies Hearts, it’s a no-brainer in my opinion. Rangers would be foolish not to pursue it.

If the supporters are feeling frustrated and restless, seeing Shankland holding that scarf above his head might help ease some of their anxieties. They know exactly what he would bring to the team: goals – and plenty of them. So, let’s wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks, as it seems to me that the manager’s significant rebuild is just beginning.