Michael Beale admits it might be time for Rangers and Glen Kamara to go their separate ways.
The Finland international was a key figure in Rangers 2021 title triumph and proved just as important the following year as the club blazed a trail to Seville.But he’s found himself edged out recently by Ibrox new boys Todd Cantwell and Nico Raskin and Beale now says both he and the 27-year-old have a major decision to make this summer.
The Londoner last week added Kieran Dowell to his midfield options and expects to sign further engine room reinforcements in the weeks ahead. Rumours suggesting an imminent move for goalkeeper Jack Butland also continue to swirl although Record Sport understands the Manchester United keeper is set to pause a final decision on his next club until after he returns from a family holiday.While Beale waits for an answer from the man he hopes to make his new No.1, he’s now mulling over what to do next with Kamara.
And he confessed that while he is unable to offer Kamara guarantees on the minutes he’ll receive next term, it might be time to rule on whether Gers should be cashing in on the £50,000 bargain buy from Dundee. Beale hasn’t written off the former Arsenal trainee - who has another two years on his Ibrox contract - staying with the club just yet.
But he has urged Kamara to spend his summer break weighing up what sort of future he sees for himself at Rangers. He said: “I think Glen is at a stage of his career at 27 where he is either going to be here now for the rest of his career and dig in and have a really strong pre-season.
“He is either going to be here for a considerable future or we will probably sell him this summer. When I came in he had an ankle problem he couldn’t get over. We kicked the operation into touch because we had a lot of injuries and Glen played through that for a period, then we gave him a chance to settle. He has not got back in the team because the boys that are playing have played very well.
“For Glen, everything is open really. But I think he needs to look at the competition that’s here in pre-season and decide whether there is going to be enough football for him.”
It’s only a couple of years since Kamara was being touted for £25million moves to England and the continent on the back of his starring role for Finland at Euro 2020. But as his performance levels have dwindled since so too has his resale value.
The phones have gone quiet since a rumoured move to French outfit Nantes broke down last summer and Beale now admits Kamara may have suffered by not taking the chance for a change of scenery when it was on offer. The Gers gaffer said: “Me and the staff’s relationship with Glen is really strong.
“Neil Banfield [assistant manager] was one of the heads of Arsenal when he was coming through. He is a boy that I was quite influential in bringing to the club and I have gone on a journey with him.
“The midfield that played the most the year we won the championship was [Steven] Davis, [Scott] Arfield and Kamara. That midfield has broken up for different reasons - age and people being out of contract.
“I think maybe he is one that has been around here too long and maybe needs to re-bolt himself. I think he played 10 out of the first 11 games when I came here.
“We didn’t play very well as a team in the [Viaplay] Cup final and we made changes with Nico and Todd coming in. Everyone else in midfield had to fight for one position. Against Hearts last week, I thought he grew into the game but he went into the game with a slight hamstring issue. Glen will go away with Finland in the summer and we will see what happens.
“I think Glen needs the break to really consider where he is at in his career and what he wants to do."
Meanwhile, Beale faces a wait for news on Butland. Reports from down south claimed the on-loan Red Devils shot-stopper - a free agent after being released by parent club Crystal Palace - had held talks with Gers chiefs on Tuesday where a compromise deal on his salary was reached.
But with the 30-year-old set to fly out for a family trip with wife Annabel and their two sons next week, Record Sport understands he is not expected to come to a decision until after his return.
Beale is set to gather his squad together for the start of pre-season training on June 30 before flying out to Germany for a warm-weather training camp on July 8.
