Rangers manager Michael Beale has dropped the biggest hint yet that out-of-contract midfielder Ryan Jack could be set to stay at the club beyond the summer.
The Scotland international star, 30, is out of contract come the end of the season and was quoted this week claiming that Rangers are yet to open talks over a new deal.
Jack is just returning from yet another injury lay-off – with injury problems beseiging the last few seasons of his Ibrox career – and the comments spark debate regarding the suitability of a new contract.
Undoubtedly a talented player and a highly influential one at Rangers when fit, the problem with Ryan Jack concerns availability in a squad which has been decimated by injury this season.
Rangers face Ryan Jack contract dilemma
If Rangers hand Ryan Jack a new contract and the player continues to be troubled by injury it will once again call in to question the Ibrox side’s squad management with a series of high-profile injuries already costing the club big this season.
But speaking ahead of Rangers’ visit to Pittodrie to play Aberdeen, a stadium former Dons star Jacko is very familiar with, Michael Beale insists that as things stand the midfielder is one of the first names on the team sheet.
And as long as that remains the case, then it appears there will always be a place for Ryan Jack at Rangers. This comes after Jack scored in the club’s 3-2 victory over Hibs last weekend.
“In playing Ryan in the first game and him scoring against Hibs, he is doing everything he can,” said Beale.
“But obviously I showed what I think of Ryan by selecting him in my first game.
“In the last few months, for different reasons, Ryan has not always been available so at the moment he is just focusing on enjoying his football and being available.
“He was asked a question and he answered it honestly and I will as well. At this moment in time Ryan Jack is in the best eleven players at Rangers. Why wouldn’t you want to keep Ryan Jack?”
Ryan Jack joined Rangers after his contract expired at Aberdeen in 2017 and over the last five years has gone on to cement himself as a central figure in the Ibrox squad.
Meanwhile, Celtic fans are melting down over a satirical Rangers story in the Scottish press.
