Beale repeats twin approach to Kent and Morelos contracts
Soccer Football - Champions League - Third Qualifying Round - Second Leg - Rangers v Union Saint-Gilloise - Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - August 9, 2022 Union Saint-Gilloise's Teddy Teuma in action with Rangers' Ryan Kent Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
At this stage, Rangers outlook on the contract situations of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos is clear. Michael Beale repeated the twin-track approach following the win over Kilmarnock on Saturday.
It’s a matter of time. Time to see what else is contributed by the players until the end of the season. Time to see the extent of the offers received from other clubs elsewhere and time to judge how hungry the players are to remain at Ibrox and their response to the subsequent offers from the club.
Beale was adamant that nothing yet had been put down on the table, with the manager taking the lead in terms of keeping dialogue open with his men as well as an understanding of where things are at just now.
The manager told the press conference following Saturday’s win over Killie:
“In terms of Ryan and Alfredo, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor, all of those guys, I’ve wanted to focus on the football. So whatever chats went on before I came in, of course, I’ve had some personal chats with the boys, but we haven’t put anything in front of anyone because we want to see how things move in the coming weeks.”
“It doesn’t have to make sense to anybody other than ourselves. You know, of course, I’ve spoken to those boys. The most important thing is I want them to focus on football and they’re focused on it.”
It is interesting to note Beale’s mention of Jack, Arfield and McGregor, effectively to state that the same approach is being taken toward all the players who contracts are expiring very soon but it’s clear that the emphasis is on Kent and Morelos who should be significant assets for the club.
Instead, we have this situation of almost limbo and not knowing what the outcome will be as the collective wait goes on until the players’ intentions are confirmed.
By now, there isn’t much else the club can do although that’s not to say there shouldn’t have been other action taken previously. A lot will depend on what happens on the pitch over the next three months.
If bumper Ibrox contracts are desired, they will need to be earned and there is understandable doubt if that is justified.
