Michael Beale has put Glen Kamara into the Rangers shop window heading into the summer transfer period insisting the midfielder has “been around here too long”.
The former Dundee star has struggled for game time of late under the leadership of the Englishman, despite starting his first few games in charge, and speculation has been surrounding his future.
Kamara nearly joined French outfit Nice last summer and this campaign he has been linked with Nantes and Salernitana.
Beale has worked with the Finnish international during his two spells at the club, but he now feels that the time is right for him to move on to a new challenge.
He explained: “Me and the staff’s relationship with Glen is really strong. Neil Banfield was one of the heads of Arsenal when he was coming through. He is a boy that I was quite influential in bringing to the club and I have gone on a journey with him.
“I think maybe he is one that has maybe been around here too long and maybe needs to re-bolt himself. I think he played 10 out of the first 11 games when I came here.
“We didn’t play very well as a team in the cup final and we made changes with Nico and Todd coming in. Everyone else in midfield had to fight for one position.
“Glen will go away with Finland in the summer and we will see what happens. I think Glen needs the break to really consider where he is at in his career and what he wants to do.”
Asked why Kamara hasn’t kicked on since he won the Scottish Premiership title, Beale continued: “The midfield that played the most the year we won the championship was Davis, Arfield and Kamara. That midfield has broken up for different reasons, age and people being out of contract.
“I think Glen is at a stage of his career at 27 where he is either going to be here now for the rest of his career and dig in and have a really strong pre-season – because when I came in he had an ankle problem he couldn’t get over.
“We kicked the operation into touch because we had a lot of injuries and Glen played through that for a period, then we gave him a chance to settle. He has not got back in the team because the boys that are playing have played very well. For Glen everything is open really. He is either going to be here for a considerable future or we will probably sell him this summer.
“I think he needs to look at the competition that’s here in pre-season and decide whether there is going to be enough football for him.”
It is all change at Ibrox heading into a huge campaign next season, but Beale believes the time is right to freshen up his squad.
He added: “It’s difficult sometimes in football because you go on such a journey with a group of players and then the goalposts do move. Age, motivation, experience – and also the fans here are hugely influential.
“Seeing new faces gives energy to the crowd like any football fan. Any fan wants to look to the summer and see a new face coming in. We all do that so I think that’s natural.
“You see the scenes on Wednesday night with players leaving, you go in the changing room and question whether you are doing the right thing but you know ultimately where you need to take the club.
“It is not my sole decision, it is the decision of the board and everyone in between to make sure we make Rangers stronger and take us in a positive direction over the next 3-5 years. Who are going to be the main players in that?
“We spoke about the boys the other night, and Glen and one or two others, have been the bedrock of a championship-winning team and a team that went to a European final. It’s now important that we rebuild another team.”
