Team News

Rangers will be without Mikel Arteta and Ronald de Boer for the Bank of Scotland Premier League trip to Dundee United.

The Spanish midfielder has a knee injury while Dutchman de Boer is ruled out with a thigh problem.

Stefan Klos is rested again to allow Allan McGregor another start in goal for the Light Blues with Lee Robinson on the bench.

Team (from): McGregor, Hutton, Khizanishvili, F de Boer, Ball, Ricksen, Rae, Walker, Hughes, Burke, Thompson, Mols, Robinson, Vanoli, Namouchi, McCormack, Fetai.

Club confirms Rae talks

Rangers have moved a step closer towards signing Wolves midfielder Alex Rae, 34, at the end of the season. The Ibrox club have held initial discussions with the self-confessed Rangers fan and will hold further talks when the campaign comes to an end. Director of football business Martin Bain told rangers.co.uk:
"Rangers can confirm the club has held initial discussions with Alex Rae."

Pre-season games announced

Rangers will play Premiership teams in two pre-season friendlies this summer.

And they will also take part, along with Feyenoord and Sporting Lisbon, in a four-team tournament at Newcastle. The first friendly sees a trip to Fulham's Loftus Road on July 24, before Tottenham Hotspur visit Ibrox on July 28.

The St James' Park tournament will be held on July 31 and August 1 with the line-up of games yet to be finalised.

Rangers have unveiled a new company to help nurture Ibrox stars of the future.

The Rangers Youth Development Limited aims to buy young players from around the world and sell them on to Rangers or other clubs. A £1m investment has been made by Ibrox director Ian Russell, RD Investment Group chief Paul Murray, property and hotel boss Jim Whitelaw and Inveresk Clinic Research founder Walter Nimmo.

Head of youth development George Adams says more players like Bejram Fetai and Hamed Namouchi could arrive at Ibrox as Rangers Youth Development Limited begins its operation. He said:
"I believe we have the cream of young Scottish talent at Rangers at U17 level. However, I think our older squads require supplementation. We're actively sourcing young talent from abroad and to bring to the club."

Rangers director Martin Bain has defended the newly-created Rangers Youth Development Company — despite the club now being in the position of having to buy their own young players. The self-funding company, wholly owned by Rangers, have attracted four outside investors who have put £1m in total. Bain said:
"If you're trying to attract investment there has to be a return on that investment for the individuals."

Ibrox director Martin Bain has outlined why the Rangers Youth Development Company has been set-up. He said:
"If Allan Hutton is sold, for example, to Liverpool at the moment, the money goes to Rangers as a club. But if Bajram Fetai, who is owned by the new company, is sold to Liverpool then the money goes to the development company. And that money is used to further fund more players."