'We have too many players': Michael Beale looking to trim Rangers squad in summer

Rangers manager Michael Beale will be looking to trim his squad in the summer as he looks ahead to building a more settled team at Ibrox.

First team players including Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Allan McGregor are all out of contract in the summer with negotiations set to continue until then.

But with loan players returning at the end of the season, and long term injuries including Ianis Hagi making their way back, Beale believes his squad is in danger of becoming bloated.

Speaking to Rangers TV he said: “We have too many players is my opinion. There’s a reason we’ve carried one or two more, we’ve had injury problems and we’ve had to supplement that.

“When I say we have too many we have young players out on loan as well so when pre-season starts they’re all back in the building. I want all the players to have clarity in their role in the squad and it’s difficult the more players you have.”

Rangers are still fighting on three fronts with a League Cup final against Celtic and Scottish Cup quarter-final against Raith Rovers coming up as they also look to claw back the nine point gap at the top of the Premiership.

They remain unbeaten since Beale took charge with the 2-2 Old Firm draw at Ibrox the only dropped points of his tenure so far and he is now looking to get a settled 11 on the pitch going forward.

He said: “If I look at the top teams in the top leagues, like Arsenal at the minute have the most consistent 11 and I know from being at Liverpool when they won that was the case as well. When we won the league we had a core of seven or eight that play.

“If I look at Fashion Sakala and Todd Cantwell, they’ve rotated the last few games and are completely different so they are competing for the same role but there will be certain games that suit Fashion more than Todd and vice versa so they’re aware of that because it’s been spoken about.

“Players like honest and clarity and that’s my motto.

“The last few weeks only having 18 fit means I’ve not had to leave anyone out of the squad. It’s not shying away from the job I just think every player is engaged.

“If you have a second team behind your first team then you probably need one more goalie and one more number nine. Within that you then have hybrid players like Hagi, Tillman, Kent, Arfield, Kamara, Nico Raskin. Players who don’t always play in one position it gives you more options.

“We don’t need any more than that and if there is young boys around it then wonderful but we don’t want to devalue the shirt or expectations.”