Giovanni van Bronckhorst provided an intriguing response when quizzed about contract renewals at Ibrox.
The manager is usually open and direct, even when facing the brunt of the questions, but on this occasion huis words were somewhat spiky.
With several players currently into the last year of their exisiting deals, sporting director Ross Wilson has a lot on his plate but is a situation that should not have come to this.
Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack, Allan McGregor, Steven Davis are all key first team figures who will need replaced if they leave Rangers for one reason or another. In particular with Kent and Morelos, despite their current lack of form, they are significant assets who run the risk of departing for nothing at the end of the season – as well as being able to talk to interested clubs from January.
When asked about the progress of renewals, Gio responded:
“You should ask Ross (Wilson). He’s speaking with the players and the agents so he’s best to ask about the situation. When you’re having a difficult moment, people will talk and pinpoint problems or areas to improve. I’m not the technical director. It’s not always the case that what happens is what you want.”
“You have contract discussions with players who might have different ideas about their future.”
Uncertain
It appears from that response that there is some friction or at least frustration on Gio’s part that there is still so much to be done regarding contracts and he is the man to take the heat in terms of being asked by the press.
“Asking Ross” would be great but as the manager knows, Wilson doesn’t routinely front up regularly in the way that he does as the public face of the club. It just adds another question to an ongoing list of issues that need careful attention with the outcome far from guaranteed.