Over the course of the summer, there was oh so much optimism amongst the Rangers fans celebrating their promotion from the Scottish Championship. 

Into the top tier at long, the Gers embarked on a busy summer of transfer activity in order to afford manager Mark Warburton the resources to battle bitter rivals Celtic at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

It really hasn’t worked so far.

The Joey Barton saga looks like coming to a predictably sour conclusion, while fellow summer signings seem to not be working out and the Hoops have bested their rivals in both meetings this term.

Still, the fast-approaching January sales provide the former Brentford boss a further chance to strengthen, and while any hopes of challenging for the league are all but gone, would at least help them finish the campaign strongly.

With that in mind, here are TWO January signings who’d take Rangers to the next level.

Henri Lansbury

A tad ambitious perhaps, but the mere fact Rangers offered Joey Barton big money to move over the summer at least showed the club were willing to spend big.

Clearly, Warburton is in dire need of a midfield lynchpin without Barton and perhaps a move for Nottingham Forest skipper Henri Lansbury would be well advised.

The former Arsenal youngster is a top quality player, coming to the end of his deal with the Reds, and worked with Warbs at Watford.

Would be a huge coup for the Gers.

Robert Snodgass

While not a direct replacement for Barton in a positional sense, Scotland international Robert Snodgrass would certainly be a marquee arrival at Ibrox.

Perhaps his country’s best player right now, the situation at Hull City could afford the SPFL outfit a free run at the ex-Leeds ace, who would completely revitalise Warburton’s attack.