Rangers stars may not play for the club again after Celtic clash – expert
Alan Hutton has claimed the Rangers squad are “playing for their future” in Saturday’s derby match against Celtic.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender said that regardless of whether the league title is too far out of reach, the players need to turn up in the Old Firm game on Saturday (8 April).
Seven first team players are out of contract in the summer and could quit Ibrox for free but Michael Beale will be eager to avoid losing so many assets at once.
On Wednesday (5 April), sources told this site that Ryan Jack is set to be offered a new contract ahead of his deal running out this summer.
Alongside Jack, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Allan McGregor and Filip Helander are all set to become free agents this summer, unless they are offered new deals.
Rangers face their rivals at Parkhead on Saturday as they attempt to close the nine point gap in the race for the Premiership title.
With just seven games to go, even if the Gers win all of their remaining games, they will have to rely on a Celtic implosion to nick the Scottish Premiership crown.
When asked if the gap between the teams takes away the players’ motivation for the game, Hutton told Football Insider: “Not for me.
“Whether you are going to win the league or not you want to cut that gap down to as small as possible.
“You are playing your biggest rivals in the next game, you lost in a final to them not that long ago.
“You want to go and put down that marker that says it might not have worked this year but we are coming back next year and we are going to fight to the end.
“I am pretty sure the motivation will be there. A lot of these players are playing for their future. Michael Beale is going to want to put his own stamp within this team.
“If you do not turn up from now until the end of the season that could sway him. There is a lot of big games coming up and the players are going to have to prove themselves to the manager.“
In other news, Ryan Jack offer being submitted in coming days.