RESIGNED Michael Beale appeared to all but confirm that Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent WILL leave Rangers this summer.
Both players are out of contract at the end of the season and have been linked with moves away from Gers.
Willie VassAlfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent BOTH look set to leave Rangers[/caption]
Winger Kent and striker Morelos, both 26, played in the semi-final loss to Celtic, which Beale confessed could end up being their last game at Hampden.
The Light Blues were beaten 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jota in the 42nd minute.
Morelos in particular struggled on the day while Kent was hooked at half-time.
But while it’s been assumed for a number of months that Morelos would definitely be on his way this summer, Beale had previously been open about Kent being “different”.
It made more sense given Kent cost Rangers £7m while Morelos was only a £1m buy.
The Gers boss stated he wanted to see more from Morelos before looking at an extension and was more upbeat about Kent (and teammate Ryan Jack, who’s also out of contract).
But it seems talks never have progressed and the winger now looks set to follow Morelos out of the door at Ibrox.
Asked if Morelos and Kent were playing their last games at Hampden, he said: “Possibly, yes.
“It will be the biggest rebuild this club has seen in a number of years.
“You have to be respectful, you come in in November and you know changes will be made.
“But I’ve got a group of players that I need to manage and keep moving forward and motivate for the games.
“It’s obvious I’m not going to condemn people and send them away.
“But it’s also obvious that we are getting to the summer and there will be some change.
“If you don’t hear anything, then people’s contracts are running out and it gives you a good indication that there is change in the air.
“We’ve been in need of the summer for a while and we need some new faces and new energy. We need to be better.”
The Rangers defence fell asleep as Jota headed in the winner for Celtic and Beale admits they were lacking at both ends.
But he also claimed the result was “harsh” on the Ibrox side as a first Old Firm win as boss remains elusive.
Beale said: “It’s happened in a lot of big games for the club.
“No one is meaning to make mistakes but in the big moments, we have done.
“Why? I don’t know. We throw the big words out – mentality and character.
“Two or three players have switched off. They know. They are kicking themselves.
“It’s a big moment in their careers, it’s a costly moment for all of us as a club.
“No one went out there to switch off but they did.
“They score, fair play to them. They’re alive in that moment and we’re not.
“I’m bitterly disappointed. Fine margins will generally decide big matches.
“We’ve made an error again in a moment and conceded a goal.
“The game has been very harsh on us.
“In the second half we took the game to Celtic, we had big moments that we haven’t executed.
“In big games you can’t have that much of the play and make a mistake and get away with it.
“We always felt we could carry a threat. In the second half we made a lot of good running and had chances.
“But we’re missing big chances, similar to the Viaplay Cup final here.
“You want opportunities in their end, you want possession of the ball, you want to be able to take the game to them – all of that happened.
“But if you get an opportunity and don’t take it and then make an error, you fall short against a good team.
“We had our moments, like in previous games against Celtic, but we’ve fallen short.”
Morelos has been strongly linked with a move to Sevilla and was forced to deny he’d already signed a pre-contract with the Spanish outfit.
Kent meanwhile has been mentioned in connection with moves to Aston Villa and Leeds United at various times over the past 18 months but it seems Burnley are now top of the list.
Today’s result means Rangers have no chance of winning any silverware this season while Celtic could do on to clinch a Treble.
But Ange Postecoglou revealed Cameron Carter-Vickers will play no part in the league run-in, or the Scottish Cup final.
He told Viaplay: “I thought the two centre-halves were outstanding. I mean, that’s Cameron Carter-Vickers’ last game of the year. He’s been carrying an injury for I don’t know how long.
“We’ll put him out to pasture for a little bit now and get what he needs to get done.”
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