Ryan Jack admits he’s keen to sort out his Rangers future.
The Scotland midfielder’s current contract expires in the summer and the club have yet to instigate talks over a new deal. The 30-year-old - who joined from Aberdeen in 2017 - insists he loves playing for Gers. But he doesn’t feel he needs to prove his worth when it comes to being offered an extension.
The club has tied up Ianis Hagi and Leon King on long-term deals but Jack hasn’t yet been approached about staying in Govan. And he’s revealed that he’d like to know where he’ll be playing next season - whether it’s at Ibrox or elsewhere. Jack said: “I haven’t spoken to the club, there’s been nothing so far. I’m just going to work hard, get my head down, play my football and whatever happens will happen. Is it hard to put it to the back of your mind? Well obviously, it’s your life.
“I have a young family and things outside football so your contract situation determines where they’re going to be. But I just need to focus on playing for Rangers week in, week out and see what happens. I’ve been here five years and, without doubt, I’m settled and love playing for this club.
“But I’ve not had a conversation with anyone. When that comes, we’ll sit down and see what the plan is for the future.
“Obviously, you want to have your own future secured. If any player tells you otherwise they’re talking nonsense.
“You always want to have it secured and know where you are, so you can plan ahead. But sometimes in life and in football it doesn’t work out like that.
“Sometimes the manager can have that conversation with you or Ross Wilson. I think I’m old enough now that I can be approached and I can speak. Then I’ve got my agent to sort out contracts and stuff like that.
“But it’s nowhere near that at the minute. I’ll just try to stay fit, work as hard as I can and give it my all until the end of the season.”
Jack has started new gaffer Michael Beale’s two games in charge - a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen and Thursday night’s 3-2 Premiership win over Hibs.
He’s set to anchor Rangers’ midfield against old club Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Tuesday and is enjoying working under Beale. Jack can start talking with other potential suitors on 1 January. And despite being troubled by injuries in the last two years, he says his fitness isn’t an issue.
Jack, who was pivotal to Steven Gerrard’s side that clinched title number 55 in 2021, said: “I had a great relationship with the gaffer when he was here last time as a coach. I love his ideas on the game and the way he wants his team to play.
“So for me, it’s just about buying into that now and hopefully going forward I can help the team. I think we can all buy into it and have a successful second half of the season.
I don’t think I need to prove anything to anyone. I know what I can bring and I’ve worked with the manager before so I don’t think it’s a case of me going in every day to prove I’m good enough. He knows what I can bring and how I see the game.
“I’m in good shape and in a good place. I feel really good and I’ve had like a mini pre-season. I came through that with flying colours so hopefully I can continue to show my form on the pitch.”
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