Ibrox Noise understands that Rangers are set to bid farewell to all Ibrox players out of contract this summer, with Borna Barisic, Leon Balogun, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack, Jon McLaughlin and John Lundstram all to move onto pastures new, while Fabio Silva and Abdallah Sima will both return to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton Athletic respectively.
The 6 players out of contract have not been offered new deals, bar John Lundstram, and with the lack of agreement reached between he and Rangers’ board, the ex-Sheffield man will indeed head off this summer, with Ipswich and Trabzonspor massively in the hunt for his signature as things stand.
But Balogun, Barisic, Roofe, Jack and McLaughlin will not be offered new deals and shall make their way out of Govan this summer, sadly, in the case of Balogun.
And the loans in Sima and Silva will not be turned into permanents, with Sima too injured and Silva offering too little in terms of quality; only Oscar Cortes is likely to remain, if a deal appropriate for Rangers can be struck with Lens.
And for those likely wondering about Diomande, he’s obligation to buy, Rangers WILL be signing him permanently in the summer regardless.
In terms of Balogun, he is the only out of contract player who still retains a slim ember of a chance of being offered something, but the chances now, with 16 days to go until he’s a free agent, have reduced to almost nil, and the chance is 99% that he’ll head off, unless of course another role is found for him at Rangers. He loves the club.
But the other 5 have no chance – Roofe has already said goodbye, Barisic more or less the same, and Jack and McLaughlin won’t be offered anything. Lundstram rejected the offers he received.
Upshot?
Rangers are set to free up a whopping £85,000 a week in wages of those out-of-contract players meaning that can be properly reinvested in new talent coming in during the summer.
Loans?
Silva’s Rangers wage is said to be around £30,000 of his £85,000pw Wolves wage, while Sima is on a modest £10,000, which still frees up another £40,000, meaning, in total, Rangers’ waving these players a goodbye will free up around £125,000 in wages when all 8 players move on.
Now, there may be some last-minute changes of heart, but information is currently that all 8 will leave, and only Cortes stands a chance of remaining.
You wanted a clear-out?
It’s happening.