This season it is Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, last season it was Connor Goldson, the ongoing contract sagas that Rangers are far from immune to that every club in world football has to contend with in the post-Bosman era.
The Gers vice-captain left it late to put pen to paper, a fixture congested season saw a title defence slowly slip from our grasp in the midst of an historic run to the Europa League final – there was barely time to breathe never mind sit down to sort out the finer points of a new deal.
Goldson made it clear during the season that he wanted to stay but that it had to be right for both him and his family, finally making his decision the day after he came back off holiday when he had time to properly reflect.
Speaking to the Scottish media, Goldson explained that it was never an issue in his head and that his focus never wained as soon as he crossed the whitewash as reported by The Glasgow Times:
“I am so dedicated to football. Every single day I work so hard to be at my best. Obviously I am going to make mistakes because I am human and bad games are going to happen when you play every three days.
“I just didn’t like that perception that the fans thought I was leaving and that I wasn’t trying or didn’t care. I care more than anyone. I always have. That’s what hurt me the most.
“For everything I was giving I felt like it was getting thrown back at me that I didn’t want to be here. That was never the case.”
Goldson’s absence this season had as big an impact on our results as any other factor, his importance in organising the defence can, surely, no longer be overlooked. Imagine if we didn’t sign another centre-half in the summer and he had left what state we would be in?
Connor Goldstone played his heart out in every game last season there was doubt in my eyes he gave his all for the shirt