MARK Allen, the Rangers director of football, has revealed Steven Gerrard will prioritise attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Gerrard recruited 15 players in the summer as he overhauled the squad he inherited when he was appointed Ibrox boss on a four-year contract in June.

Rangers have made an impressive start to the campaign and are now entering a run of fixtures that could define their season in the Premiership and Europa League before the end of the year.

A number of Gerrard’s signings have quickly established themselves but the failure of striker Umar Sadiq leaves Gerrard with only Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty as viable options through the middle.

That is something Allen is keen to address in January but there is unlikely to be another significant tranche of arrivals ahead of the title run-in.

“I have said all along that recruitment never stops and we are constantly evaluating and looking to see if we can improve the squad," Allen said. "I think if the appropriate opportunity came up we would strengthen wherever we possibly could.

“I think it is fair to assume that most of the business gets done in the summer as opposed to the winter window but I am not saying we won’t do anything, I am not saying we are going to do anything. It is about evaluating where we are, what opportunities exist and is this the right time to take that opportunity?

“I think we have been quite good in our recruitment in terms of making sure we have got adequate cover in most positions. You are always looking for someone that can put the ball in the back of the net, that happens at every football club every day. The fact we are always looking at strikers won’t be a surprise to anybody or any director of football or manager.

“I just think it depends on the type of player that becomes available at that moment in time. You look at it and ask one simple question: ‘Can this player improve where we are right now?’ And if the answer to that is yes and the opportunity is there to do it then you do it.

“The board have been excellent in backing all of our requests, whether that be frees or fees paid and I just think you have to look at the player. I won’t take a player just because he is free. He has to be right for Rangers and has to be able to improve what we have already got. That conversation is one that myself and the manager have on a regular basis.”