Steven Gerrard has admitted that his Rangers squad will undergo a summer clear out as he targets a small and tight-knit side to spearhead a charge for the title in Scotland next season.
The Gers have had a bloated squad at times this season with 15 new arrivals in the summer transfer window, as well as a handful more in January.
With yet more arrivals lined up, the likes of Jordan Jones agreeing to pre-contract deals, the Light Blues boss has confirmed he will not hesitate to hold talks with certain players to tell them they are surplus to requirements if they decide to stay at Ibrox.
Gerrard told the Daily Record: “If there are players I don’t need, it’s easy to address that. I’ll show the players an honesty and respect. If there’s someone who I don’t feel I can give happiness to, in terms of game time, then I’ll tell him. Then the decision’s out of my hands.”
“My squad will be tight, small and full of people who will be playing in games and contributing to our success. If I have that conversation with someone and they decide to stay, they won’t be around my group.
“It’s easy for me. I’ll get them in the office one-to-one and say, ‘Look, this is the reality.’ I can’t have people hanging around my squad being a drain or energy-sapper within the group.”
OPINION
Steven Gerrard will need to be ruthless in the summer. He has had his first season to settle into the management and has had relative success at Rangers. His second season will be the first year where he will be harshly judged after stamping his authority on the club and putting together his own squad. Coming out and stating that he will be clearing out some of the so called dead wood in his squad will put him in-front of the harsh critics. There will be no excuse if he fails to deliver another strong year at the club. Having said this, Gerrard is definitely right to want to clear his squad of some players and needs to replace them with the right players. Players like Eros Grezda and Kyle Lafferty will most likely leave and this must be the start of a clear out which can only benefit Gerrard’s squad. Rangers can definitely learn from their mistakes this year when outlining their transfer targets, if they can target the right players they will definitely be able to challenge their rivals Celtic next season after a year which included a first win over the Hoops in years.