Journalist: Philippe Clement to make decision on six Rangers stars as high-profile Ibrox exits mooted
Philippe Clement is set to make a decision on the six out-of-contract players at Rangers, according to Dean Jones.
Speaking to GiveMeSport on Sunday (29 October), the former Eurosport journalist said the new Gers boss will need some of John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin and Leon Balogun “stick around”, but that it would probably “hold him back” to keep all of them.
Although he added that if some of the players react well to the Belgian then they “can have a future” at Ibrox, he believes the best resolution for those that are “stuck in a bit of rut” would be to move on to another club.
“We’ll have to see Clement’s exact philosophy, but he will need some of them to stick around,” said Jones. “Keeping all of them is probably a bit too much and would probably hold him back because when there are problems at clubs in bad periods, and the players get stuck in a bit of a rut and need lifting out of it, the best way to do that is to send them to play somewhere else.
“So, I don’t think Rangers should renew all of these contracts by any stretch of the imagination, but one or two will do well once he comes in.
“Rangers need Clement to push his personality on them. If some react well, they can have a future at the club. But I’m not sure all of them should. I don’t think that would be a positive.”
Time will tell
It’s still very early days for Clement at Rangers and it’s extremely unlikely that he will have made up his mind of any players just yet.
The new manager will be keen to give everyone a fair chance to prove they have what it takes to play under him for the Gers, whether that’s just in training or in games.
But he will want to put his own stamp on the squad once the opportunity comes his way and next summer could provide an ideal chance for him to move a few players on once their contracts expire.
Some senior members of the team will see their deals run out at the end of the campaign and will be anxiously waiting to see what Clement’s plans are for them.
But if they get their head down, work hard and show the Belgian that they can be asset for him moving forward, then their contract situation should take care of its self before too long.
In other Rangers news, the Gers were torn to shreds in a newspaper after squandering £8million.