Rangers boss Graeme Murty has revealed that the club are in extensive talks with all four of their senior players who are out of contract this season, but admitted that he would consider sanctioning exits if he cannot guarantee first-team football.
According to Transfermarkt, the four players on permanent deals at the club whose contracts run out at the end of the campaign are David Bates, Danny Wilson, Kenny Miller, and Niko Kranjcar.
The Rangers boss was speaking in the pre-match press conference before the Gers’ first competitive game of 2018, a Premiership clash with second-placed Aberdeen on Wednesday.
Murty, whose own deal as permanent manager is up at the end of the campaign, honestly admitted to the press that he would be willing to consider an exit for a player who is not guaranteed first-team football at Ibrox.
He then went on to mention young enforcer Bates, who impressed in the Old Firm derby in December but looks to be down the pecking order at the club.
He was quoted by the club’s official Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon:
GM: If a player is desperate to play football and I can’t guarantee it then we have to look at everything for both parties.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 23, 2018
GM: We are talking to all of the players who’s contracts are up. David Bates is not in a unique situation there.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 23, 2018
As reported by the Daily Record, Bates is a target for Sunderland, and is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal at Ibrox.
OPINION
Murty has impressed with his down-to-earth and honest style as manager of Rangers so far, and this is no different. It would be easy to say otherwise, but he has admitted that he may let players go who are not in the first-team picture. Whether that includes Bates is unclear, but the young enforcer does look to be down the pecking order at Ibrox. The club have Danny Wilson, Bruno Alves, Russell Martin and Fabio Cardoso as options at centre-back, and Bates may be best leaving the club.