BOTH Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent are out of contract at Rangers next summer.

As a result, they are both free to speak to other clubs regarding pre-contracts in a little over two-months' time in January.

It is clear that both of their futures at Rangers are up in the air, although talks are believed to be ongoing regarding new deals.

The duo have played major roles at the club over the past four to five years, helping Rangers to a title win, Scottish Cup success and of course to the Europa League final.

However, with their performance levels dropping in recent months, serious concerns have been raised by Gers supporters as to each of their commitments to the club. 

So, as they approach the end of their current deals, do Morelos and Kent have a future at Rangers?

AIDAN SMITH 

I think it would be silly for Rangers to cut ties with two of their star performers over the past few seasons. The pair have delivered so much success for the club and have been huge fan favourites during that time.

They maybe aren’t held in such high esteem right now, but the club as a whole are struggling, they should not be singled out.

Morelos has been rightly criticised for the physical condition he has been in so far this season, but his quality, when fit, can’t be ignored. With hard work and determination, there is no doubt he can return to his best.

Kent is a strange one. On his day the former Liverpool man is unplayable, and he is simply a level above the Scottish Premiership. His confidence currently just looks shot, but again he is playing in a team who are failing to hit the heights that they should be. Improvement is needed from the pair, but if Rangers can extend their deals they should.

Both are top-level players, and the club will struggle to replace them if they do depart.

Morelos has been constantly linked with big European clubs during recent transfer windows, but at the moment it is hard to believe that elite sides will be taking an interest.

Kent could be a different story though given he does not carry the same attitude concerns.

DAVID IRVINE

There's no debate that on their day Morelos and Kent bring a cutting edge in spearheading the Rangers attack. But there haven’t been many of those days this season.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst still deploys the pair as key figures in the Ibrox squad, but the return he’s received simply hasn’t been good enough this term.

Too often they have been posted missing on the big occasions this season; which is in stark contrast to their previous heroics for Rangers during their mostly impressive input at Ibrox.

However, does the successes of seasons past earn Kent and Morelos the right to be handed new deals in Govan? Personally, I’m not convinced.

The accomplishments of both players cannot be denied with them both crucial in both the Scottish Premiership title win in 2020/21 and the incredible run to the Europa League final last season.

But with performances questionable at times this season, it might not be as much of a no-brainer for Rangers to hand out lucrative deals to the duo as perhaps it would have been in seasons past.

With that in mind, I don’t think it would be the worst thing in the world for Rangers if Kent and Morelos were allowed to leave in the summer – or even be sold for some financial gain in January.

It would undoubtedly leave a major gap for van Bronckhorst to fill if the pair leave and there would be obvious worry about losing two influential players – but with their Ibrox careers arguably stalling of late, a fresh start could be the perfect storm – if a divisive decision – for both the players and club.

EWAN PATON

As has already been stated, the impacts of both players over the years cannot be underestimated.

Their respective individual numbers prove as much. Morelos has scored 114 goals in 238 appearances for Rangers, while Kent has notched 31 times in 191 outings. Both players have 52 assists to their name also.

During their title winning campaign under Steven Gerrard, both players were up for player of the season awards at club level and were also recognised by their fellow professionals in the Premiership.

Both have clearly raised their game for the European occasion over the years too. Morelos scored goals for fun in the Europa League, while Kent was consistently beating his man and stunning defenders with his trickery and undoubted technical ability.

That said, their performances in the 22/23 season so far have left a lot to be desired. Morelos has looked unfit, overweight and uninterested in several matches, which has resulted in him being placed on the bench, playing second fiddle to Antonio Colak. Kent has shown the odd flash in fairness, but his usual consistency has disappeared, and his confidence appears to be shot.

I could see a Connor Goldson-type scenario with Kent where he may wait it out right until the end of his deal before eventually signing a new one. However, I think Morelos will finally move on.