Why securing the long-term future of Ryan Jack makes sense for Rangers
According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are set to open talks with midfielder Ryan Jack over a bumper new deal, with manager Steven Gerrard keen to secure the long-term future of the 27-year-old.
Jack, who featured in Scotland’s defeats against Russia and Belgium in the recent European qualifiers during the international break, has established himself as one of the mainstays of Rangers’ midfielder following the arrival of Gerrard last summer.
The Scottish international put in an excellent shift in the middle of the park to help Rangers secure a 1-0 victory over Feyenoord on Matchday 1 of the Europa League and followed it up with another assured display in the 4-0 drubbing of St. Johnston away from home, playing his 13th game of the ongoing campaign in the process.
A youth product of Aberdeen, Jack spent 17 long years connected with his boyhood club across various youth and senior levels and made 250 appearances in all competitions across seven seasons in the Scottish top-flight before departing for Rangers on a free transfer in the summer of 2017.
After enduring an injury-stricken debut season at Ibrox, Jack has not only resurrected his Rangers career under Gerrard but he has also turned into somewhat of an indispensable component of the club’s midfield over the past twelve months or so.
The 27-year-old scored 4 times in 46 appearances across all competitions the last term and he has kicked on from where he signed off at the end of the previous campaign.
With Gerrard switching between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations this season, Jack has had to compete with the likes of Joe Aribo, Steven Davis, Andy King, Scott Arfield and Glen Kamara for a spot in the midfield but he has shown the hunger and the determination to put in quality performances every week.
A central midfielder by trade, Ryan Jack isn’t the most exciting of players and but his composure in possession and high work-rate coupled with his impressive range of passing and the ability to keep things ticking in the middle of the park have made him a go-to man for Gerrard.
The ex-Aberdonian doesn’t contribute with a whole lot of goals and assists but his calming influence in the midfield does allow the more attack-minded players to venture forward and, to be honest, he has been quite brilliant in a holding midfield role for Rangers over the past year or so.
To put things into perspective, it should be an absolute no-brainer for Rangers to offer Ryan Jack a new deal with improved terms in a bid to secure his long-term future at Ibrox.
The 27-year-old’s current contract runs out in the summer of 2021, which is just more than 18 months from now on, and the Gers should move quickly to sort out the future of one of their standout performers.
A seasoned campaigner in Scottish football, Jack not only has the experience and the know-how to do the job for Rangers on the domestic front but he also has the skillset to make an impact in the European ties.
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At 27, the midfielder still has plenty to offer at the highest level and it doesn’t really require a rocket scientist to figure out that offering him a new deal would be an excellent piece of business for the Gers, as they look to push on under Gerrard and put an end to Celtic’s stranglehold on the Scottish throne.