The immediate future of Connor Goldson is one of the biggest talking points at Ibrox this Summer – will he sign a contract extension or will he be allowed to run down his contract?
Normally, when any player enters the last 12 months of their deal, as is now the case with the defensive colossus signed from Brighton, the club would be looking to cash in on their asset.
But this is where it gets difficult.
By selling Goldson now, how do you replace the impact and attributes which he provides on a fraction of his real value? This has to offset against the overall value of keeping Goldson in situ, especially with the carrot of Champions League revenue in touching distance, as well as the transformative automatic qualification for next season’s tournament by retaining the Premiership crown in the campaign ahead.
However, in the last few days the mood music appears to have changed.
A positive, enticing Goldson interview was plugged by Rangers TV over the weekend, followed by very encouraging words from Clive Tyldesley on commentary duty against Real Madrid, yesterday evening.
🆕 INTERVIEW: @RangersTV subscribers can now watch an interview with Connor Goldson ahead of today's match against @OfficialBHAFC.
📺 Watch Now: https://t.co/qu3fU7V5KP
👉 Subscribe To RTV: https://t.co/nLczsr3Wob pic.twitter.com/PCL82LfrTl— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 24, 2021
Domination
The defensive powerhouse was asked if he was able to reflect on last season’s achievement over the Summer break, to which he responded:
“I sat down for a bit during my holiday and thought about it and it sunk in a little bit.”
“I don’t think it will be until the end of my career when I can really look back on last season and see how special it really was.”
“As soon as you start in pre-season, your only focus is on the future, so I don’t want to look back too much.”
“We know we’ve made history but now do we want to go and dominate or be known as the team who only won 55?”
“Do we want to go and win 56, 57 or 58, or be known as the team who won 55?”
“Personally that’s where my head is at and the gaffer will be drilling it home every day to make us go on and to dominate.”
These heavy, loaded words were not the thoughts of a man with designs of leaving any time soon, but stranger things have happened in football.
On commentary for Rangers TV yesterday, Tyldesley picked up on weekend press speculation suggesting that Goldson had agreed a three-year extension to his contract.
The veteran broadcaster alluded to a deal being very close and that an announcement should follow in the coming days.
If nothing else, it would act as insurance for Rangers if any bids follow and a likely increase in terms for the player – with the possibility of a move further down the line being part of the overall discussions.
Between Goldson’s words, reports of a new deal and the commentary, there is no chance that nothing is happening, expect confirmation to follow very soon.