"Ross Wilson, Director of Failure”. Their banner might not have made its way inside Ibrox Stadium for Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter final against Raith Rovers but the message still got out loud and clear on social media.
And as the future at the club of both Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos - such key men since the start of the Steven Gerrard era - there is one question that has been on the lips of many fans. Just how can both just be a few months from potentially walking out of the Ibrox exit door for nothing?
Granted, Morelos has more than repaid the modest fee of £1.5 million Pedro Caixinha splashed out to sign the Colombian from HJK Helsinki. And the same could even be said of Kent despite a more significant £7m outlay which made him the second most expensive signing in the club’s history. It’s safe to say he has contributed more than the most expensive after £12m man Tore Andre Flo flopped in Glasgow.
But to receive nothing in return after their departure would be bad business whichever way you look at it. Speaking at a supporters' event four years ago this week, managing director Stewart Robertson said “We rate (Alfredo) Morelos at least the same as (Moussa) Dembele in terms of value.” The former Celtic striker joined Lyon for just under £20m. Rangers also reportedly rejected an offer from Lille of around £18m for Morelos.
Wilson also revealed at the club’s AGM late last year that: “We've rejected one offer for both players on the basis the players were of more value and we went on to be league champions in that same season.” Those bids came in the summer and while short of the clubs valuation - losing them for nothing would be less than what ever that offer was.
Of course, it takes two parties to commit to a new deal and chairman Douglas Park hinted their demands were too high. However, the prospect of losing two such valuable assets such as Kent and Morelos for free is a risk that can’t be repeated in the future. And in that case, Wilson and Rangers must surely be looking ahead to this time next year.
They have already acted by tying Ianis Hagi down on a deal with his contract extended by two years until 2026. Had they they not done that, then the Romanian would have been in the same position this time next year as Kent and Morelos now. Youngster Leon King was in the same boat and extended his deal.
But what about the rest? The start of next season will see Kemar Roofe kick off the final 12 months of his contract but it’s debatable whether he’s done enough earn an extension given his injury record. Jon McLaughlin is another. He will be 36 in September and Michael Beale is looking to address the goalkeeping situation so the Scotland squad man isn’t a priority.
However, Borna Barisic and John Lundstram are the two Rangers must look to sort out. Lundstram was said to have had a market value of around £10m when Gerrard convinced him to move to Ibrox from Sheffield United on a Bosman in the summer of 2021. If he leaves for nothing, having arrived for nothing, then Gers will have missed a trick, albeit his form in helping them reaching the Europa League final last season and win the Scottish Cup make him a shrewd acquisition even if his performances have dipped.
A bid of around £2m from Watford was knocked back for Barisic just over a year ago which would have seen Rangers recoup the fee they shelled out for the Croatian International. That wouldn’t have been a bad deal given his service since 2018. He has been repeatedly linked with a move away but Gerrard said during the height of speculation “if someone did come, they would have to bring an awful lot of money with them.” The same kind of cash might not be required now - but losing the full back for nothing in just over 12 months would be poor business.
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