Rangers boss Derek McInnes hasn't enjoyed the best of starts at Ibrox, and he certainly could have done without the devastating injury that has seen Youssef Chermiti sidelined for a significant period of time.
The 22-year-old Portuguese youth international enjoyed a breakout season in Glasgow last campaign, netting 15 goals in the Scottish Premiership following an £8m move from Everton.
Chermiti lasted just 36 minutes of Rangers' 2-1 defeat at home to Hibs before suffering a suspected ACL injury, which could rule him out for the remainder of the season.
McInnes still has captain Lawrence Shankland and Bojan Miovski to call upon, however the Gers are likely to need additional firepower in their quest for a first Scottish Premiership title since 2021, plus the added factor of a potential UEFA Conference League campaign to contend with.
Here we take a look at five potential options Rangers could explore to replace the Chermiti sized hole in their frontline.
Kevin Kelsy
Starting off with an easy one, Venezuela forward Kevin Kelsy has been heavily linked to Rangers in recent days following Chermiti's injury, and the 22-year-old looks ideally placed to make the move to Ibrox this summer.
Kelsy plies his trade for Portland Timbers in the MLS and has scored nine times in 17 matches so far this season.
Standing at an imposing 6ft 4 inches tall, the young Venezuelan would likely have the required attributes to adapt to the rigours of Scottish football, however he is unlikely to be a cheap option.
Portland Timbers have Kelsy tied down until at least 2029 - with the option of a further year - and a figure of £7.5m+ has been mooted for his signature.
Ellis Simms
Could Rangers turn to England again for additions to their forward line? If so, Coventry forward Ellis Simms might fit the bill.
The 25-year-old had a stop-start season during the Sky Blues promotion campaign from the Championship, starting just 15 games and appearing from the bench 18 times.
Despite the inconsistent appearances, Simms managed to bag 13 goals last season, including a final day hat-trick against Watford.
There are question over whether Simms may be moved on during this transfer window, especially as Coventry have been linked to a number of moves for strikers this summer.
At 25-years-old, the Englishman is at a good age and he already has knowledge of the Scottish Premiership, enjoying a relatively successful campaign with Hearts in the 2022 season, when he scored five goals in 17 games.
Daniel Karlsbakk
Norwegian striker Daniel Karlsbakk has been linked with moves to both the Premier League and Championship this summer following a standout campaign with Sarpsborg in 2025, and has had a solid start to the new season.
The 23-year-old hadn't enjoyed much notable goalscoring success before in his career, but has plundered 23 goals in 45 games for Sarpsborg in the Eliteserien.
Karlsbakk stands at a rangy 6ft 5 inches, so potentially offers an imposing presence at set pieces, despite his rather lean frame.
Available at a reported £4m, Karlsbakk may represent a more affordable recruitment forward option for Rangers this summer.
George Hirst
Scottish international striker George Hirst looks set to be available for transfer this summer and Rangers could do worse than recruiting a forward who scored 11 times in the Championship last season.
Hirst earned promotion with Ipswich to the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign, but reportedly finds himself on the fringes of the first team heading into the new season.
Another tall striking option at 6ft 3 inches, Hirst has represented Scotland 10 times and may fancy a move north of the border to put himself in the mind of the new national team manager heading into the Euro 2028 qualifiers.
The 27-year-old has been linked with both loans and permanent transfers in recent weeks, however a reported £10m transfer fee could prove a stumbling block for the Gers.
Ryan One
Finally, young Scottish forward Ryan One could prove a shrewd addition to McInnes forward options; indeed, Rangers are reported to have opened negotiations with Sheffield United in an attempt to capture his signature.
At 20-years-old, One has his best years ahead of him and would likely be happy to sit behind Shankland and Miovski in the pecking order, providing he still plays adequate minutes this season.
Like the aforementioned Hirst, One will be eager to push himself into contention for the national team over the next couple of years and a move to Ibrox could represent his best opportunity to do so.
