STEVEN GERRARD is confident Swedish stopper Filip Helander will justify his price tag after completing his move to Rangers from Bologna.

The defender has put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal at Ibrox and become the most expensive signing that Gerrard has made as boss.

Helander took the acclaim of the home crowd during Rangers’ 4-0 win over Marseille on Sunday and could make his debut in the friendly with Blackburn this weekend.

Gerrard said: “It’s a position where we have been looking for the right solution for a long time. To have someone of his calibre, a Swedish international with his height and profile - he ticks a lot of the boxes we were looking for.

“We are relieved to get it over the line and now our centre back positions are set for what is hopefully going to be a 60-game season.

“He naturally gives us balance as a left footer. That enables us to play with a two or with a back three. He will be able to defend our box and be a threat at set pieces.

“He is comfortable on the ball. He’s a good man, he’s a leader. We do need more voices out there if we want to challenge for the top prizes. He is another good type through the door.

“At £3 million for him, we’ve done really well. If you look at what is going on in the market in front of us, in England and around the world for a centre back, £3 million is money well spent. But he has to go and prove it now.”

The deal for Helander is the eighth that Rangers have completed this summer as Gerrard has added strength and depth to his ranks ahead of the new Premiership campaign.

A number of players have been told they have no future at Ibrox this term and Gerrard isn’t finished with his business in the transfer market just yet.

He said: “We will naturally try and move some people out of the door because the squad is too big and bloated right now.

“Over the coming weeks, we hope to move some on. It’s very difficult to meet everyone’s ambitions in terms of game time. Everyone wants to start every game.

“Sometimes I have to respect players who are saying they are only interested in starting every game. If there is something out there that suits the club, then I will respect that.

“In terms of incomings, we are near enough done. I say near enough - you are never done as a manager. But there won’t be much more activity in terms of incomings.”