Michael Beale kick-started his Rangers revolution by retaining the services of Ryan Jack as a core member of his Ibrox squad. But come next week he expects formal announcements of club exits.
The Rangers boss explained that communication over players departing the club will come next week before a major transformation on and off the pitch in the post-season.
It’s a mammoth task for Beale – especially without a sporting director in situ – but he’s confident there are solid foundations to build upon in Glasgow.
“After the weekend we’ll formally let everyone know where we’re at in terms of players staying and leaving,” confirmed the Rangers manager.
“When the sun’s shining in your face, everything’s good and when the wind’s blowing in your face everything’s rubbish, that’s the way of a football manager in this city.
“We have a core of players moving forward and I think that’s obvious. You don’t change the whole squad. But it’s important we don’t get romantic over one performance [win over Celtic], people have had the whole season to play and perform and show the fans and me and the staff that they should be involved. But it was a good day last week.”
One area Beale will look to strengthen in the summer is in central defence with Rangers having been plagued with injuries in the rearguard at times this season.
He explained: “We’re going to add into that area this summer, for competition for Connor, John, Ben, young Leon King’s going to go up to give us more variety and athleticism and power, which I think is important over a long season.
“That area of our team, certainly over the first part of the season around the Champions League, was very damaging to us. The only one who’s stayed fit was the youngest one, Leon King.
“We had no Filip Helander the whole season, Ben’s been in and out, Connor’s had the one season in his career when he’s had a few knocks and been out for a period of time and John’s not been fit.
“It’s an area where there needs to be more consistency. So those guys are going to have some competition and hopefully, they rise to that.”
There is expectation over a deal to be completed for the signing of LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes after the player’s social media activity suggested a willingness to move to Ibrox.
Beale, however, eased speculation as he claimed there was no deal in place to sign the player who has been heavily linked to make the move to Ibrox.
“It’s not very close. These things pick up speed and he’s a very good player but his contract runs till December and it’s quite a while until December. I haven’t seen any of his posts on social media.”
Malik Tillman is another who is unclear over his position for next season with the player having travelled home to Germany for treatment on an injury with talks to commence over where he sees his future.
Back in Glasgow this weekend for a club awards ceremony, Beale is expecting to discuss whether the player sees a switch to Rangers permanently as a possibility over remaining at Bayern.
“It was a nasty injury,” said Beale on Tillman’s situation. “It was a twelve injury and he went to Bayern after we did the scans here because officially he is their player.
“He was back to get his award last weekend and he’s back for our presentation this weekend - probably thinking that he’ll maybe get one more.
“We’ll have the chat. I think Malik said in an interview exactly where we are, the same as me, we are due to sit down and have a conversation.”
