Honest Kris Boyd admits Rangers may have no choice but to sell the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent while they still can.
The Ibrox side have enjoyed a more stable summer than predicted so far with Connor Goldson, Allan McGregor and Steven Davis all committing to the club. But they face a major problem next year, with Morelos, Kent and Joe Aribo among a host of stars who are out of contract next summer and yet to put pen to paper.
Kent has been linked with Leeds while Morelos is attracting reported interest all over Europe, and it could well be their last chance to cash in before the key men walk away for free in a year. But the club are standing firm, with Ross Wilson insisting no-one has to be sold unless significant bids arrive. Boyd though believes it would be naive to cling onto anyone who plans to leave for nothing when their contract is up, and has urged the club to be proactive.
He said on Sky Sports: "The reality is that Rangers have a number of players who are out of contract next season. It's very unlikely they will be unable to keep every single one of them, because Rangers won't be able to get anywhere near what Leeds will be able to offer Ryan Kent, for example, on a free transfer.
"So they might have to do a few sales this summer so that players don't leave for nothing next season. I'm sure they'd love to keep everyone, but the players who are out of contract have done so well for Rangers, so it will be difficult to offer them the money it would take to stay.
"They won't just roll over. There's finances there and they can negotiate, after the run they had last season. They won't want to lose the star players who have got them into that position.
"Morelos is another one. Rangers will have to monitor his situation.
"He's been linked with a move every single window since he came to Rangers. He works hard, he's put in the graft, and there's been some terrific finishes along the way.
"When he's playing that well, there will be interest across Europe, and there will be a time when Morelos leaves Rangers. But there's other ones there who are just as vital."
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