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Pedro Caixinha says his Rangers recruits are 'settling day by day'

Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has opened talks with a number of transfer targets

Pedro Caixinha says his Rangers recruits are settling well and he wants them to enjoy playing at a packed Ibrox in Thursday's Europa League qualifier.

The Portuguese has already added eight signings to his squad over the summer, including the likes of Bruno Alves, Carlos Pena, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack and many of them will get their first taste of competitive action in a Rangers jersey when Progres Niederkorn visit Glasgow this week.

Caixinha says his squad are in a "transition phase" after early recruitment and a swift return for pre-season training and he took his players through a training session at the stadium on Monday to help the new recruits acclimatise ahead of what will be a sold out Ibrox encounter.

Pena is expected to become Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha's third summer signing
Image: Carlos Pena joined Rangers last week

"Our preparations are mainly based on our own team. We are about to finish our pre-season and I always see the last week of pre-season as a transition phase in order for you to make all the rehearsals and see if everything is OK," Caixinha told RangersTV.

"Of course, we know the opponent we are facing. The data has arrived from Luxembourg, and the players will know all the information, and we will have time to speak to them regarding to what we want from the match."

Alfredo Morelos has represented Colombia up to under-20 level
Image: Alfredo Morelos also joined Rangers this summer

He added: "We are here at Ibrox to have a training session, one which needs to be more 'game-like' - and I want that to be in the same scenario we are going to play the match.

"We are going to have a lot of new players, and I want the players to see the pitch etcetera before they get there. It is going to be a full house, and I want them to enjoy playing in that.

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"They [the new players] are settling day by day and on a daily basis. It will take time and we are helping them and the club is helping them. Everyone is trying to give them the confidence and a very warm welcome. It will take a little time to adjust and to get used to the lifestyle in Glasgow."

Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha brought Jonatan Johansson into his coaching setup
Image: Caixinha says his Rangers recruits are 'settling day by day'

He also vowed to repay eager supporters after they celebrated chairman Dave King's new retail deal by clearing the club shop of stock.

A controversial seven-year retail agreement set up by the previous Gers board, which earned the club just 7p from every pound spent on Rangers merchandise, has been ripped up and fans, who had previously boycotted club merchandise, rushed to buy jerseys after King announced a peace pact had been struck with Mike Ashley and Sports Direct.

Rangers chairman Dave King announced a new retail agreement had been struck
Image: Rangers chairman Dave King announced a new retail agreement had been struck

"It is fantastic. Our fans were waiting for the moment to get in the store and buy everything," Caixinha said.

"It is great, and again, the support they are giving back to us and the passion they are giving us is incredible. We just need to pay the same back to them. It's a relationship a massive club like we are needs to have between the fans and the team."

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