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Glasgow Live
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Alan Galindo

Barry Ferguson reckons one of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent or Joe Aribo could leave Rangers

Barry Ferguson admits he has been happy with the transfer business done at Ibrox so far.

But the Rangers legend fears one of the top stars heading out of contract may well have played his last game in a light blue jersey.

Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo are amongst a group of players who have just 12 months to run on their current contracts.

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Connor Goldson handed Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst a major boost last week by putting pen to paper on a fresh four-year deal.

But Ferguson reckons at least one of the star trio are likely to be saying goodbye to the Ibrox club in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: Rangers and Celtic learn Champions League draw dates, qualifying details and group stage schedule

Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: "With Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos all entering the final years of their contracts, I’m finding it difficult to believe that at least one of them may not already have played their last game in a blue shirt.

"And, as painful as it will be to see any of them moving on, it’s probably time for the fans to brace themselves for the possibility of having to say goodbye to one of their star men.

"The Connor Goldson situation was a close call for my old club. They came very close to losing him for nothing and I’m not sure they will want to take a risk like that again with Kent, Aribo or Morelos.

"Goldson will turn 30 later this year so even if he had been signed up on a long-term deal Rangers would be looking at bringing in five or six million quid for him in the market.

"I’m sure they factored that into the thinking when they allowed him to run down the last year of his deal.

"In many ways, it was worth keeping him for that kind of money as he was worth more to the team than the bank account.

"But that’s simply not the case with the other three guys. The bottom line is Rangers would be looking at bringing in double or even treble that amount if they cashed in on any one of them.

"And that’s the kind of sums they really can’t afford to take a punt on.

"It’s now up to these players to make a decision on where they want to be because, if they are not prepared to sign up for the long haul then Rangers can’t afford to stick their heads in the sand any longer.

"It’s cards on the table time for all of them.

"Rangers have made their position clear. The club is on the up, has established itself as a major European force again and the aim now is to get into the Champions League, win back the title and lift more domestic silverware.

"If that’s not enough to excite you then you’re in the wrong place.

"The message which was sent out the other week when Goldson put pen to paper was a simple one: We’re not finished here – this team is just getting started.

"So it’s up to these guys now to decide if they want to be a part of the next chapter and I’m confident at least two of them will follow Goldson’s lead by agreeing new deals."

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