Philippe Clement has been clear that if Rangers are to progress as a club, the contract situation at Ibrox has got to change.
The Gers manager lambasted Ross Wilson’s much-defended contract model by claiming that the entire arrangement is ‘not good’ for anyone at Rangers.
“This club comes out of a financially difficult situation,” said Clement. “It’s not a good thing to have six players out of contract so they don’t have any value to sell and then you need to make decisions if they stay or not.”
With only Leon Balogun set to be offered a new contract as things stand, Clement is well aware that five potential first-team assets are walking out of Rangers for nothing this summer.
Forcing unnecessary upheaval at Ibrox season on season, if Philippe Clement is serious about changing the contract situation at Rangers then he has some big decisions to make going into 24/25.
Rangers lose fortune on player contracts
Last season Rangers saw tens of millions of pounds worth of potential talent walk out the door for nothing.
Filip Helander, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos could’ve fetched Rangers a combined £30m in their prime but the club hesitated amid high profile interest.
Instead, all of these players left on a free, making a mockery of the suggestion Rangers have ever been serious about installing a functional player trading model.
Fast forward 12 months and we’re in a similar situation.
Borna Barisic once could’ve banked us a fortune and is now set to move to Turkey alongside high-earning midfielder John Lundstram.
Kemar Roofe has taken up an expensive slot on the wage bill without contributing enough over the last three seasons.
It’ll take something ‘miraculous’ for Ryan Jack to be offered a new contract whilst Jon McLaughlin is a guaranteed summer exit.
Four players out of contract at Ibrox
Rangers need to have a stronger degree of mid to long-term planning with the contract situation at the club forcing an overhaul in the squad for the last two summer transfer windows.
That means a decision has to be taken on the four names who are out of contract in 2025.
This includes three homegrown members of the Rangers squad.
Academy graduate Robby McCrorie, who has been linked with a move to Aberdeen, faces a major decision over his future.
Now 26-years-old, McCrorie has struggled for game-time behind Jack Butland.
After time spent as the backup Rangers goalkeeper, the Scotland hopeful needs to find a number one jersey somewhere else.
With a year to run on his contract, if the goalie isn’t going to sign another year then now is the time to move him on.
Then there is one-time Rangers golden boy Alex Lowry.
Breaking through as a teenager there were high hopes for Lowry which were initially extinguished by injury.
After spending the first half of this season at Hearts, injury once again limited the midfielder’s opportunities in the second half of the campaign.
Now, Rangers risk losing a player once tipped for Manchester City for nothing and we either have to commit to the 20-year-old or move him on this summer.
The final homegrown name on this list is Scott Wright, the ex-Aberdeen winger about to enter the final year of his Rangers contract.
Almost quitting the club for Turkey last summer before a deal collapsed, many view the winger’s 33 appearances this season as being part of the problem in Glasgow.
The final player about to enter the last year of his contract is Tom Lawrence.
The Welsh international has seen his two years with Rangers devastated by injury and the jury very much remains out on the albeit talented midfielder’s capacity to make it at Ibrox.
There are doubts that Lawrence has the athleticism to compete at the highest level for Rangers despite having the talent to be an occasional match-winner for the club.
On high wages and yet to prove himself here, Rangers either need to shift the 30-year-old back to the English Championship or put their trust in the player with a new deal.
Otherwise we’re going to lose another potentially sellable asset for nothing next summer.
