Football pundit Tam McManus has claimed that Rangers will lose Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent this summer if they don’t win any major trophies.
While they are still going strong in the Europa League – and face Braga away from home in the quarter-final tonight – the Gers’ domestic hopes suffered a hit recently. Indeed, the Ibrox club lost the Old Firm 2-1 at home in their last outing and are now six points off the top of the table.
While speaking on the PLZ Soccer Show, McManus warned that the club could be forced into a ‘fire sale’ in the next transfer window if they can’t do enough to end the season with the rewards of Champions League money which could be earned by winning the league or the Europa League.
He explained: “I think there will be a fire sale at Ibrox this year. I think they gambled, they kept Morelos, Kent, there were probably offers for them in the summer there.
“But they thought, this is a great opportunity for us to get the Champions League money, win the league, and get that £30-40m. We’ll keep our best players.
“But I think if Rangers don’t win the Europa League, and I don’t think they’ll win the league, I think Morelos will be away, I think Kent will be away. Because they’re not going to sign another contract.”
TIF Thoughts on Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Rangers…
Heading into this summer, Morelos will enter the last year of his Rangers contract. And so, if he isn’t willing to sign a new deal as McManus predicts, the club will have to sell him if they want to make any money from his departure.
Worryingly for the Scottish club, Kent’s contract – which also expires in 2023 – will leave them in the exact same situation.
Will Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent leave Rangers this summer?
Yes
No
Of course, if the club do make that extra £30-40m of income that McManus points to, the situation could change significantly. Firstly, if they win silverware, either Morelos or Kent may feel as though they are satisfied with the direction the club is going and sign a new deal.
Even if they don’t want to commit their future to the club, due to that extra financial injection, Rangers would arguably not be forced into selling both players in the summer and could hold onto them for another six months to a year.
All in all, it sounds like a lot is riding on Rangers’ exploits in Europe this season or they will have to get through a gruelling qualifying campaign simply to qualify should they fail to retain their title.
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