MICHAEL BEALE insists he will have a say on the ongoing Rangers contract talks with Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
The new Ibrox boss knows both players well from his previous stint in Glasgow working as a coach under Steven Gerrard.
And he's revealed he will give his opinion on the negotiations with both players with their current deals expiring in the summer.
Talks have been ongoing with the key Ibrox duo in recent months with previous boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst "positive" over developments.
Now, Beale has admitted both players are capable of improved performances for Rangers than recent form as he admitted "ideally" they'd remain at the club.
But he also offered a warning as he insisted the "cards ain't in their hands" only as he vowed to improve his Ibrox squad.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Beale explained: "I think that is ongoing (Kent and Morelos contract talks). Certainly, I will get to have an opinion on that but that's been ongoing.
"They are two players that I worked well with previously.
"I have obviously known Ryan and his family since he was 14 so there is a strong relationship there built over trust over ten years.
📝 Wanting to keep Morelos & Kent 💰 Board will back him over transfers 🏆 'Chasing down' Celtic in title race 🤝 Relationship with Ross Wilson Part two of our exclusive interview with Rangers boss Michael Beale who discusses the above and more ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yt3wKTAMBg
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2022
"When I was here previously they were both excellent in different ways; Alfredo in terms of the goals he scored and Ryan in the way he entertained people and got on the ball and took the game to the opponent.
"I think they are capable of more than they are showing right now - that's fair to say. But there will be reasons, they will have their own reasons for that and be working away at it.
"But I trust both players. We've played this out as a club before with Connor Goldson and his contract situation and sometimes a player wants to see and wants to take their time, there's no problem.
"It's fine, we keep talking. I think the option is both ways with both players as well. The cards ain't in Ryan and Alfredo's hands if you like, we also want to create a stronger Rangers moving forward with or without those players - ideally with them."
