By Graeme Hanna

23rd May, 2023 | 2:40pm

Michael Beale talks ahead as Rangers transfer news emerges on exits

Rangers boss Michael Beale has provided an indication of more departures to follow at Ibrox, as reported by the club’s Twitter account.

He was speaking at the press conference ahead of the final home fixture of the season, against Hearts, following earlier news on Tuesday that five players would be leaving the club.

Allan McGregor, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, and Alfredo Morelos will all be moving on to pastures new, with Beale’s summer rebuild set to deliver a fresh look to the squad.

As well as paying tribute to those who have given so much to the club in recent years, the manager also commented on those under contract who are not guaranteed to feature in his plans for the new campaign.

“There is a few players in the squad I will have conversations with about their future and playing time for next season,” he said.

“We want to reduce the number of players in the squad and energise with age and energy.

“It is a fantastic club to come sign for, we want the full squad to feel close to playing.”

Signal of intent

End of an era, the right time, a sad end.

Plenty of terms will be used to describe the news of the high-profile departures at Rangers but the bottom line is that it had to happen and in some cases, has come too late!

Beale is having to pick up the pieces with the squad currently not equipped to challenge Celtic and the club have to learn from that. One size doesn’t fit all in regard to player trading but it is a massive risk not to sell players when their stock is at its highest.

For that to happen with Morelos and Kent is negligent. That can’t happen again.

They are about to leave as well as several others in what has to be a fresh start for the squad. Others will need to be sold in what is a signal of intent for the change that is set, and needed, to come.

In other Rangers news, this youngster believes he is “good enough” to make an instant impact at Ibrox.