New Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale will likely spend the next few weeks leading up to the January transfer window assessing potential targets and looking at how he can improve his squad.

It isn’t just incomings the 42-year-old has to worry about, however, with a host of first-team players out of contract at the end of the season - most notably Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.

The duo are arguably two of the Light Blues' biggest assets and letting them leave for free next year is simply unfathomable, especially considering the type of transfer fees that the two could generate.

One of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s biggest failings was not securing them on extended deals before now, and despite their poor form this season – registering just 11 goal contributions in all competitions between them – they remain key players.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now dropped an exciting contract claim over Kent while speaking to Football FanCast, saying his relationship with Beale may help in future negotiations:

“Beale’s past association with Kent, I’m sure will improve their chances of maybe convincing Kent that Beale has got an exciting project ahead at Rangers.”

This will surely please the Ibrox faithful, who are desperate to see the club tie down the Englishman to a new long-term deal, and perhaps Beale is the correct man to do it.

During the 42-year-old’s stint as Rangers' first-team coach from 2018 to 2021, Kent registered an impressive 61 goal contributions and was an integral part of the side that claimed the Premiership crown in 2021.

The £18k-per-week wizard has been dubbed as “completely unplayable” by Andrew Dickson following his performance against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League last season and these displays have been sorely missed during the club's poor run of form this season.

The 26-year-old lacked his usual creative spark during the first half of the campaign under the Dutchman. Hopefully, Beale can replicate his old tricks and get the winger firing again.