Barry Ferguson: Rangers contract situation not helping Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Barry Ferguson believes the Rangers board are offering Giovanni van Bronckhorst no help when it comes to players’ contract situations at Ibrox.
Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Jack and Ryan Kent are all out of contract in the summer of 2023 and have yet to agree new terms with the club.
Ferguson feels those working behind the scenes are responsible and can’t quite believe they could all leave for free in just a matter of months.
He said (Daily Record, 21 October): “I listened carefully to Gio’s press conference on Tuesday afternoon when he admitted, in an ideal world, Morelos, Ryan Kent and Ryan Jack would all have new deals sorted out before the season stops for the World Cup in Qatar.
“I’m not saying this was a public cry for help. But it was as near as dammit. You have to ask, what has been happening behind the scenes while three of the club’s most talented and valuable assets have been letting their contracts tick down?
“Given their importance to the team, it’s actually quite incredible that they could all leave for nothing in just a few months’ time. But, even if that is the case, what Gio needs is some sort of clarity and certainty.”
Poor planning
It’s clear that the contract situations are having an impact on proceedings at Ibrox. Kent and Morelos haven’t hit the heights we all know they can and it’s having a negative effect on van Bronckhorhorst’s side. What is frustrating is that everyone involved with the Gers could see this coming.
Contract negotiations should have taken place last season before the summer window, to give the Gers a chance of making a profit on both players. At the moment, it looks as if both will leave the club for nothing after providing below-par performances whilst in the final year of their current deals.
It will be criminal for the decision-makers at Ibrox to lose Kent and Morelos for free and it’s something that cannot happen again in the future.
With van Bronckhorst under pressure, it’s another issue that he is having to contend with which is somewhat out of his control. With January fast approaching, it will be intriguing to see how Rangers handle their out-of-contract men.
In other Rangers news, the manager is now close to an exit after his reaction to the midweek flop.