Rangers are set to let Scott Wright and Jon McLaughlin leave - as Michael Beale gets ready to begin his major revamp.
The Ibrox boss confirmed after Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic that his club is facing their biggest rebuild in several years. Rangers have finished the season empty-handed and the manager admitted there could be up to 12 new arrivals - if he gets his way. A deal has already been sealed for Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell while talks with Manchester United back-up keeper Jack Butland are also at an advanced stage.
Rangers also have an agreement to sign Malik Tillman from Bayern Munich at the end of his loan and it remains to be seen if they trigger the deal - as it would take a significant summer outlay. Beale is also keen on Swansea winger Morgan Whittaker and Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo.
Rangers have also been recently linked with Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam. Beale took him on loan to Queen’s Park Rangers from Villa earlier this season. Villa have denied there has been any contact with Rangers and that the 19-year-old will return to them for pre-season, regardless because new boss Unai Emery has not seen him at close quarters.
Beale is ready to clear the decks at Rangers and that also includes players who are still under contract. Wright and McLaughlin fall into that category.
Experienced McLaughlin has another year left on his contract, while Wright has a deal until the summer of 2025. They are unlikely to get extended game time and they have a decision to make whether they want to remain on the fringes or to go and get first-team football elsewhere.
Rangers signed attacker Wright from Aberdeen in 2021 but has dropped down the pecking order and never got off the bench at Hampden. Keeper McLaughlin, who came in on a free transfer from Sunderland in 2020, got his chance to stake his claim for the No. 1 spot this season but hasn’t really taken it and Allan McGregor has taken the gloves.
Veteran McGregor is out of contract in the summer, as are Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, Filip Helander and Ryan Jack. Beale admitted again at the weekend that big hitters Morelos and Kent are unlikely to be re-signing. Back-up keeper Kieran Wright is also out but is likely to sign an extension.
A number of fringe and younger players are also out on loan. Josh McPake is at Queen’s Park, Ben Williamson has been at Dundee and Mateusz Zukowksi is out at Lech Poznan.
Winger Kai Kennedy has spent the season at Falkirk and he is another who is out of contract at the end of the season. Lewis Mayo is also at Kilmarnock and is likely to be sold.
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