Rangers FC are gearing up for a summer of change, with five first team players set to leave the club at the end of the season when their contracts expire. This announcement signals the beginning of what could be a big transition season for the Glasgow club. Rangers have confirmed that Allan McGregor, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos will all be departing. Together, the five senior players represent over 1200 matches for the club with a combined market value of just under €30 million. Kent and Morelos were once considered talented, sellable stars, but they have failed to produce the expected results this season, managing only 13 and 19 goals and assists respectively.
Rangers’ manager, Michael Beale, has stated that the club plans to sign “exciting new players” as part of the summer rebuild, with an emphasis on new faces that bring “age and energy”. The aim is to have a younger squad next season, which could result in the club parting ways with other senior players. The most obvious candidates are John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack, all of whom are either 30 years old or will turn 30 by the end of next season and also have contracts that expire in 2024. Beale may be tempted to cash in on some of them to fund younger and more exciting players, as their combined market value stands at just under €22 million.
The club has already begun signing players, with Kieran Dowell being the latest addition to the squad. Dowell is a former Norwich City attacking midfielder who signed a three-year contract on a free transfer. He joins Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin, who were signed in the January transfer window, as part of the club’s strategy to focus on signing younger players. However, it remains to be seen whether these new recruits will be enough to challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title next season.
Rangers’ summer of transition is particularly significant, as they are finally starting to rebuild their squad following years of financial turmoil. The club went through a period of administration and liquidation in 2012, which led to their demotion to the Scottish Third Division. Rangers were promoted to the Scottish Premiership in 2016 but have finished behind Celtic every season since. This summer marks a new chapter for the club, and they will be hoping to close the gap with their arch-rivals in the coming seasons.
Overall, this summer is set to be a crucial period for Rangers FC, as they look to refresh their squad and compete at the highest level. The departure of five first team players will be a significant change, and the arrival of younger players offers the potential for exciting times ahead. It remains to be seen whether these changes will be enough to challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title, but Rangers fans will be hoping for a strong showing next season.
