When the final whistle blew at Hampden four months ago it was expected to be the end of an era for that particular Rangers team. It was seen as a cycle coming to a natural conclusion with Steven Gerrard having left during the season to be replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
But, despite the arrival of seven summer signings, the team sheet doest really look that different this campaign after all. Twelve of the 17 players involved in the extra time Scottish Cup final win over Hearts in May are still at Ibrox. Yes, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey left for big money but some of the old guard stayed with Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield all handed extensions. There was speculation over Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent as they entered the final year of their deals but they also remained.
So many statistics have been swirling around in recent weeks to highlight the need to freshen things up. Nine of the starting XI against Ajax were at Rangers during Gerrard’s first season. The latest is that only Sheyi Ojo has left from the team that started a home Europa League win over Feyenoord THREE years ago. What seems clear now is that the big squad overhaul is definitely coming – in what will be one year after it was originally forecast. Here Record Sport looks at when every player in the squad’s contract expires which indicates who might be heading out of Ibrox either in January or the summer.
