There is absolutely no doubt now that some Rangers players will leave this summer.
The question of a UEL trophy and a guaranteed crack at the UCL next season was a potential temptation for the likes of Allan McGregor and others, but now Rangers have to negotiate qualifiers, even with a good chance of getting there, as well as a lesser disposable budget for Gio does change the landscape a lot.
It means McGregor will almost certainly play his last match on Saturday for Rangers, and it opens the door to a number of key players being vulnerable for sale.
Which, let’s be clear, isn’t a bad thing.
This Rangers squad/era has been going for four years now, culminating in a UEL final. It’s been pushed as far as it can go and we’re ok with refreshing it and letting Gio remould it to his vision, selling some players and building his squad for next season the way he wants it.
The likes of Goldson will surely leave, and after his world class performance in Sevilla, Calvin Bassey will attract interest too.
Losing in Sevilla was significant – the outcome of that final was going to be significant one way or the other, but the Joe Aribos, Ryan Kents et al who are out of contract next summer year are now extremely vulnerable to sale.
A fire sale?
Not quite – we’re nowhere near crisis. We achieved history with Seville, just getting there, but we stretched the players to breaking point.
They had nothing left by the end of the 120 minutes and there’s no harm in tweaking, selling, signing and refreshing the squad to Gio’s requirements for next season.
In fact it’s a must, because we’ve not had quality new blood in for about two years now.
The squad needs a shake up.
It was a magnificent ride, season 21/22, but unless we can pull a SC win out of the hat, we will end it with no trophies.
And that’s not going to cut it at Rangers. It never has and never will.
As Sir Walter once said, when you’re a Ranger, you put yourself second, and that’s the only time second is good enough.
So, we assess where things are come 5PM on Saturday and we look to the future.
What else can we say?