The summer transfer window may be done and dusted, but football fans wouldn't be doing their jobs as passionate and committed followers if they weren't already thinking ahead to January and potential deals in the offing.

In the case of Rangers, many fans will first be hoping to see how their new arrivals bed in before making any firm judgements on what the club does and doesn't need when January rolls around. However, there is unquestionably smart business to be done.

The Light Blues will be working on a strict budget and January is a great opportunity to use their pull to secure players who are coming to the end of their contracts at their current clubs, potentially landing them on the cheap.

In the Scottish Premiership, outside of Celtic and Rangers, it's almost the norm to see the division's top performers have less than a year left on their contracts as they dream of moves to bigger clubs.

These are the THREE high performing top-flight stars with expiring contracts that Rangers should try to lure away in January.

Ali Crawford

Hamilton Academical player Ali Crawford is arguably one of the Scottish top-flight's most underrated performers as a creative and goalscoring force for the perennial relegation strugglers over the last few seasons.

Despite playing with Accies since 2009, he really burst onto the scene as a stand-out performer in 2014 when he scored 11 goals and created 11 assists in the Scottish Premiership.

In the two seasons since his direct goal contributions have continued to reach double figures with 18 in 2015/16 and 17 last term, helping Hamilton avoid dropping into the Championship with a play-off win over Dundee United.

He's started his ninth season as a Hamilton player in similarly fine form, finding the net three times already across league and cup action. With his contract expiring now though, will this be his last season at New Douglas Park?

Coming into his prime at 26 years of age, January would certainly be a good time for a club like Rangers to try and land him on the cheap. He's versatile enough to play on both wings and through the middle and could add a real creative spark to Pedro Caixinha's side.

Louis Moult

If Louis Moult has another season like his previous two at Motherwell, he could be one of the hottest free agents in Scotland next summer, with his agent likely to be fielding calls from around Scotland and further afield.

The 25-year-old Englishman has scored 18 goals for the Steelmen in each of his last two seasons and has started this season in red hot form, scoring four in all competitions and providing finishes like the one seen in the video above.

Rangers may have added firepower in the form of Alfredo Morelos and Eduardo Herrera this summer, but it would be hard to say no to Moult if they could sign him up for a reduced fee due to his contract situation.

Jamie Walker

Rangers may end up regretting not moving for Jamie Walker this summer if he opts to move elsewhere when his contract expires at Hearts next summer. He will be free to speak to foreign clubs in January with less than 6 months left on his current deal and while that could benefit the Light Blues in terms of getting him cheaper than Hearts' summer asking price, they'll likely face competition for his signature.

Walker was one of the stand-out performers in the Scottish top-flight last season, scoring an impressive 15 goals from the left flank - a contribution Rangers could do with on that side of the pitch after the departure of Barrie McKay.

Rangers should absolutely pursue him again when the window re-opens and if they can get him for cheap, it'll be a big boost to Pedro Caixinha's squad. The question is, have they gambled by not splashing out on him this summer?