Don't look now but it's nearly April and that means it's well and truly pre-contract season up and down the SPFL.
There is still plenty of the season left to play but players have been free to speak with new clubs for three months now and for many negotiations will be well underway to tie their future up early - particularly with the international break offering a pause from match action for some. There will be some players quite happy to run the clock down and see where the land lies come May, hoping to impress in the closing stages of the season and put themselves in the shop window, while others will be anxious to wrap it up early and avoid the indignity of an uncertain summer.
Virtually every club in the Premiership has at least one player they are sweating the future over and for the players in question decision time is fast approaching. Here at Record Sport, we've taken a look at 12 of the best performing players who are out of contract in just a few months time, and ranked them on their chances of landing a big move - or a handsome new deal at their current club.
12. Conor Hazard
Age: 25
Current club: Celtic
Young keeper Hazard's chances of landing a new deal at Celtic look slim with Ange Postecoglou evidently not viewing him as good enough to challenge Joe Hart and Scott Bain in the long-term. He last spent time on loan at HJK Helsinki, but has played six times for the Hoops' first-team, and at 25, the 6ft6" stopper can be picked up without a development fee - boosting his chances of a decent move once he leaves Parkhead permanently.
Key fact: Hazard is a four-time senior international with Northern Ireland.
11. Stephen O'Donnell
Age: 30
Current club: Motherwell
It seems like such a long time since O'Donnell was a guaranteed pick in Steve Clarke's Scotland squads. He's endured a tough season with Motherwell and their turnaround under Stuart Kettlewell has coincided with a spell out of the starting lineup for the 30-year-old. But you did read that right - somehow, he is only 30, and his international pedigree will make him an attractive enough prospect. Should land a deal with another Premiership club no problem.
Key fact: Once taught Jack Grealish a lesson about showing off after complimenting his calves.
10. Charles Dunne
Age: 30
Current club: St Mirren
Versatile defender Dunne has started all but four games for a St Mirren game going great guns in the Premiership having made a steady career for himself north of the border since signing for Motherwell from Oldham back in 2017. Injury kept him out for the entirety of the abridged 2020/21 season but he looks back to himself now - however his red card against Celtic in that 5-1 drubbing kept him out of the final game before the international break.
Key fact: At time of writing, Dunne has played exactly 99 Scottish Premiership games.
9. Jonny Hayes
Age: 35
Current club: Aberdeen
Former Celtic winger-turned-defender Hayes has been one of the stabilising influences of Aberdeen's recent upturn and has managed an impressive 12 assists in all competitions this season.
He's played well over 300 games across his two spells at Pittodrie and it would not be surprising to see him extend his stay - especially if it's Barry Robson at the helm come May 31.
Key fact: Hayes has racked up more than 500 senior appearances across his 7 clubs.
8. Ian Harkes
Age: 27
Current club: Dundee United
Ever the dependable presence in the Dundee United engine room, American midfielder Harkes has consistently been one of their best players since his move from DC United in 2019. Known for his penchant for goals in big games, he's netted key strikes against Dundee and Aberdeen and is well capable of turning in a screamer. He hasn't quite shown that this season, but who at Dundee United has really shown their best form this term? They will be keen to keep him but any chance of that will depend on their top flight survival.
Key fact: Harkes has been called up by the US but never capped.
7. Alfredo Morelos
Age: 26
Current club: Rangers
It had looked like Morelos was back to something approaching his best under Michael Beale but he's fallen down the pecking order again recently with Beale frankly admitting he needs to see more energy from him before he's offered a new deal. He's into double-figures for the season and it says a lot about his quality that ten goals is considered a sub-par return for a player of his ability. He'll have offers, but will they be of the standard he's hoping for? Perhaps only if he has a big finish to the season after the international break.
Key fact: Morelos saw six red cards in his first two seasons at Ibrox but has only seen one since.
6. Nicky Devlin
Age: 29
Current club: Livingston
One of the players David Martindale is really reluctant to lose, skipper Devlin is likely to have plenty of offers having thoroughly impressed in another odds-defying season from the Lions. He's started every league game and has been their Mr Reliable, scoring against Ross County to sign off for the break and leading by example as they jostle it out for a top-six finish and potential European football.
Key fact: Devlin has registered an impressive 24 goal involvements in 139 appearances for Livi.
5. Angus MacDonald
Age: 30
Current club: Aberdeen
Doubts were cast over his fitness when MacDonald joined the Dons on a free transfer in January. Having battled back from a bowel cancer scare, he'd started fewer than 20 games in the 18 months prior to his switch to Pittodrie, but since returning to Scotland it is so far, so good. MacDonald has finished 90 minutes in every game and it's not an entire coincidence that they have won four of those, having won none of their last ten. He was only handed a short-term deal but Aberdeen would be crazy not to put a longer-term deal on the table ASAP.
Key fact: Aberdeen have kept two clean sheets in their last 3 games with MacDonald on the pitch: they had kept four in 25 before he joined.
4. Robert Snodgrass
Age: 35
Current club: Hearts
It's been an up-and-down season at Hearts who are now starting to seriously sweat third-place when it seemed like a formality just a few weeks ago. But imagine where they'd be if they hadn't signed Snodgrass in the summer? The former Scotland star has taken on a new role as a deep-lying midfielder and he's been virtually indispensable for Robbie Neilson, starting 19 of their 21 league games since his arrival in September. His experience has held things together when they may otherwise have fallen apart and he'll likely be keen to hang around and get a shot at Europe next season.
Key fact: Despite making 171 Premier League appearances and running out for Leeds, West Ham and Aston Villa, Snodgrass has never played in European competition. Maybe now's his chance...
3. Ryan Jack
Age: 31
Current club: Rangers
Michael Beale has already told Jack he wants him to sign a new deal as he's one of the players he can depend on. Long-term, he may transition into a squad option with Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell driving their midfield into the future, but he's a steadying presence and not a player Beale wants to be losing in the short-term. With John Lundstram and Glen Kamara also available, it's a position Rangers have plenty of depth in but Jack has retained his status as a starter most weeks and that's not hugely likely to change between now and the summer. It's hard to see another club coming in for him but he'll have a deal on the table at Ibrox and seems likely to sign it.
Key fact: Despite being picked in every Steve Clarke squad when fit, Jack has only made 14 appearances for Scotland.
2. Jack Fitzwater
Age: 25
Current club Livingston
Other than Celtic and Rangers, only two teams in the Premiership have conceded fewer goals than Livingston this season and despite his recently-developed penchant for a red card, Jack Fitzwater has been a central part of that. Picked up on a free from West Brom in the summer of 2020, he's been a trademark shrewd addition and he's one of a dwindling group of players on the books who have been there since before David Martindale was named permanent manager. He's played more than 100 games for them and looks set to get a well-deserved big move - perhaps back to England where he came through the ranks with West Brom.
Key fact: Fitzwater made 42 senior appearances for his four previous clubs combined; he's made 101 for Livingston alone
1. Ryan Kent
Age: 26
Current club: Rangers
While he's still not quite the player Rangers thought they'd signed when they paid £7m to land him permanently in 2019, there's no denying he's done his fair share this season. Fans would like to see more goals and assists from him but 12 involvements in 41 games is nothing to snuff at and the curve in his performances has been all upwards since Beale took over. He's another who has been told there is a new deal there for him if he wants it but he turns 27 later this year and knows he might not get a better chance for another crack at England.
Then again, a few good performances under Beale in the Champions League and doors could open that might otherwise be closed. It's decision time for the former Liverpool man.
Key fact: Kent once blew Jurgen Klopp away in a friendly against Sevilla with the Liverpool boss describing him as 'a wonderful kid and a wonderful player'
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