Former England international Mark Hateley believes Rangers will have to work out how to navigate the upcoming transfer window.
After relinquishing their Scottish Premiership title to their city rivals and losing out on the Europa League via penalties, Rangers ended their season with silverware as they prevailed over Hearts in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday.
However, ahead of his first full season in charge at Ibrox, Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be tasked with reshuffling his squad.
Club icons Steven Davis and Allan McGregor, as well as Connor Goldson, see their contracts expire at the end of the month, while more than a handful of first-team regulars head into the final year of their deals, including Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos – their two most valuable players, according to Transfermarkt.
Do you think Goldson is replaceable at Rangers?Yes
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Speaking to the Glasgow Times, Hateley discussed how the Light Blues may approach the market as they have two different ways of going about their business.
The BBC pundit said: “Next year it will be what happens in this summer, right now, in the next two weeks, the way that Rangers are going to go right now – whether they are going to sell and then bring in other people, that’s going to be the decision.
“You look at the bench, it’s very deep in strength, you can take five off and bring five on and the team becomes stronger – all of a sudden that’s what Rangers have got right now.
“I heard people talk about, ‘what are we going to do this summer, are we going to be selling players or strengthening?’
“What we’re looking at now, do Rangers go and strengthen from this position of strength or will they have to sell to do that? I think that’s the next question.”
TIF Thoughts on Rangers…
It looks certain to be a vitally important couple of months off the pitch for the Glasgow giants as they look to regain the league title.
Morelos, Kent and Europa League final goalscorer Joe Aribo are all aged 25 and could walk away for nothing next summer if they are not tied down to new contracts, and that is something that the club may have to consider to avoid losing their star men without recouping any transfer fees.
Do you think Rangers can win the SPL next season?
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Elsewhere, Goldson has made 223 appearances for the Gers since arriving in 2018, while Davis and McGregor have amassed almost 800 outings for the Gers between them, so losing that wealth of experience would also be a blow for Van Bronckhorst, who has plenty to ponder before a ball is kicked again.
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