Rangers make right decision as ‘Woeful’ verdict emerges after Ibrox exit call
It was the “right decision” for Rangers to not offer new contracts to departing players John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe, according to Fraser Wilson.
The Daily Record journalist summed up the quartets’ time at Ibrox by saying that inconsistency and injuries prevented any of the players from hitting the potential they showed early on.
Lundstram and Barisic featured much more regularly than the injury-hit Jack and Roofe under Philippe Clement this season, but none of the four did enough to earn fresh deals, unlike defender Leon Balogun.
Wilson wrote: “Lundstram was magnificent in his first season but went off the boil. Barisic could be wonderful one week and woeful then next.
“Jack and Roofe will be remembered for their absence through injury as much as anything; it’s the right decision to clear out.”
Ruthless Rangers ushering in summer of change
Rangers have shown no mercy at the beginning of the transfer window, allowing four of their five out-of-contract first-team players to leave and only offering Balogun a one-year contract to remain at Ibrox next season.
Clement’s campaign to replace the quartet is already well underway, with 20-year-old Brazilian left-back Jefte already signed, and through the door as a youthful upgrade on Barisic.
Lundstram and Jack will leave a sizeable hole in defensive midfield, and while Clement is also reportedly on the hunt for a new striker, that’s more so down to the form and injuries of Cyriel Dessers and likely departure of Sam Lammers, than the need to fill in for Roofe.
Going off the boil was summed up by Lundstram’s reckless red card in the must-win Old Firm derby match against Celtic, and although players like Mohamed Diomande have been able to deputise, midfield is one of the key areas Clement must get right next season.
A summer rebuild was always on the cards at Ibrox this summer, but having ushered four players aged 30 and above out of the door, Clement is showing first-hand that his future Rangers squad will be built on the exuberance and x-factor required to wrestle the title away from Celtic.
In other Rangers news, Lawrence Shankland could be on his way to Ibrox this summer after a development at current side Hearts.
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