Sensational’ player and McInnes favourite included – 3 Rangers contract priorities

There is a particular kind of problem that only good teams have. Players start performing above their contracts. Their agents notice, rival clubs take an interest, and the people running the club realise that the deal signed in a quieter moment now looks like a bargain. That is not a crisis. It is an opportunity, but opportunities of this kind close quickly.

That is the situation Rangers find themselves in as the autumn begins. An Ibrox News piece published on 1 October argues that the club may need to sit down with several players almost immediately to discuss new contracts. Three names stand out: striker Ryan Naderi, right-back Dujon Sterling and centre-back Olwethu Makhanya. Each case is different, but together they illustrate the challenge of keeping a squad together when it is succeeding. This piece takes each in turn, sets out what the reporting says, and looks at what Rangers might do

The headline player is Ryan Naderi, and the article’s central claim is simple. If he keeps performing at this level, he will surely earn himself a new deal.

The context matters. Naderi arrived in early 2026 and, according to Ibrox News, is only now justifying his reported £4.7 million price tag. Other outlets have put the fee at around €6 million, so the exact figure is not settled, but both numbers describe a significant investment for a player who was then playing in the third tier of German football. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, so he has plenty of time left on his deal.

That has not stopped the club being urged to act. The reasoning is that a good run increases a player’s bargaining power. If he continues to score and to lead the line, he will deserve better terms. And there is the broader concern that interest from the top five European leagues, in the article’s words, would not be surprising sooner rather than later

The evidence for the claim is easy to find. Naderi has been central to Derek McInnes’ plans, and the two recent games against Celtic show why. Rangers beat their rivals 3-0 at Ibrox, a result in which the forward’s pressing was widely praised. Former Hearts and Celtic man Gordon Dalziel, describing the match, said Naderi’s work rate for the team was sensational, adding that he was not usually the forward’s greatest fan.

That is the kind of endorsement worth noting. A neutral pundit giving credit grudgingly carries more weight than a supporter who is already convinced. Dalziel highlighted a specific moment: Naderi harried Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers, won the ball, and Rangers scored.

He then set the standard again at Celtic Park, where he scored the winner. That makes two derby performances in a week, both in matches where individual quality and collective effort were visible. Across all competitions this season, his record stands at seven goals in 22 appearances for the club, including a goal in Europe and one in the League Cup.

Before arriving in Glasgow, he had scored 13 goals in 42 games for Hansa Rostock and had twice been named Player of the Matchday in the 3. Liga. His agent has also described a competitive process in which several national teams pursued him, and on 30 September he formally declared for Czechia. That decision adds a new dimension, because an international cap, particularly with a country playing in Nations League A, raises a player’s profile.

There are three arguments for acting now.Value protection.A player’s value is highest when his form is strongest and his contract is longest. Naderi has both. If he continues to score, the price any buyer would pay rises. Extending his deal now, while the club has maximum leverage, would let Rangers lock in that value and set a higher release price.

Reward and motivation. Players who feel appreciated tend to perform better. An improved contract after a few months of excellent work sends a message to the dressing room that performance is recognised.

Defence against interest. With attention already building, a longer deal would reduce the risk of a cut-price departure down the line. It would also give the club a stronger hand in any negotiation.

The case is not without risk. Naderi has been in form for a matter of weeks. It would be unusual to rewrite a contract on the basis of a short run, particularly one that has barely begun to be tested over a long season. His career has had ups and downs, and the step from the German third division to Scottish top-flight football is not trivial. Rangers would be buying into a trend, not a record.

There is also a financial dimension. A pay rise now could set expectations for others and complicate the wage structure. And a player who is on a good run can, if the form fades, become a source of frustration to a club that has already committed.

Nevertheless, the article’s logic is that the upside outweighs the risk. A modest improvement, perhaps with performance-related elements, would cost relatively little compared with the value of keeping a forward who is delivering.

The second name is the most familiar. Dujon Sterling has been one of the success stories of McInnes’ early tenure. He has started 11 games this season, and the article describes him as clearly one of the manager’s favourites.

His performances have been central to Rangers’ recent success, and the spotlight has followed. This week alone, a former Manchester United chief scout told Football Insider that clubs in England are monitoring the 26-year-old, and the club is reported to be planning to offer him a new deal.

Here, I need to flag a difference between sources. Ibrox News says Sterling will enter the final year of his contract in 2027 unless the club ties him down. Other reports, including the Football Insider coverage, say he signed an extension in 2024 that runs until May 2028.

The difference matters. If the 2028 date is correct, Rangers have a little more breathing space. If the 2027 date is right, the urgency is greater. I would lean towards the 2028 figure, as it appears in multiple reports and matches the extension announced at the time, but the safest reading is that the club’s timetable is tight either way. In both cases, the logic of acting now is the same: a player with a year or two left is worth less to a buyer, and the leverage shifts to the player.

The article’s practical advice is straightforward. To avoid having to make major decisions on Sterling’s future next summer, Rangers should make him a new offer sooner rather than later.

Sterling’s story gives the issue emotional weight. He spent 15 years at Chelsea without making a significant mark, built his reputation on loan at Coventry, Blackpool, Wigan and Stoke, and chose Rangers in 2023 to find a permanent home. He has been through injury problems, with only 17 appearances last season, but he has found consistency under McInnes.

A player who has been overlooked for much of his career, and who has finally found a manager who trusts him, is often receptive to commitment. That is an advantage for the club. It is easier to negotiate with a player who feels valued than with one who feels he has outgrown his surroundings.

The injury history is the obvious caution. Giving a long contract to a player who has missed significant time requires some confidence in his fitness. A sensible approach might include clauses linked to appearances or a structure that rewards availability.

There is also the question of how much value he would command in the market. Some reports have described him as a modest-valued player, but that could change quickly if interest intensifies. A new contract with a reasonable release fee would protect Rangers against underselling him.

The third name is the most unusual, and the article acknowledges as much. Olwethu Makhanya was a summer signing, and it would be unconventional for a club to reopen contract talks with a defender it has just recruited. His deal runs until 2030, which gives Rangers a long period of security.

Yet the piece argues that the club may need to offer a lucrative wage increase to convince him to stay longer at Ibrox. The reason is the quality of his performances. Makhanya has been one of the standout defenders in the Scottish top flight, and there is already talk of a move to a bigger team in the coming months.

Other coverage supports the picture. A recent ranking of Rangers’ summer signings noted that Makhanya and Emmanuel Fernandez have formed McInnes’ preferred central defensive partnership, with Ben Godfrey finding it hard to break into the team. A defender who has become a first choice so quickly is a valuable asset.

It might seem odd to improve a contract that has just been signed, but there is a precedent for it. Clubs sometimes reward players who exceed expectations by raising their wages, partly to reflect their new status and partly to discourage other clubs from approaching them.

The advantage is that a long contract already protects Rangers’ position. A player under contract until 2030 cannot be signed without the club’s consent, and any buyer would have to pay a substantial fee. In that sense, the club is in a strong position. A wage increase would not be about preventing a free departure. It would be about maintaining the player’s motivation and ensuring that he is content

The case against is equally clear. Rewarding a player who has just arrived sets a precedent. Other signings may expect similar treatment, and the club’s wage budget has limits. And if the article’s prediction of interest proves correct, Rangers might prefer to keep the contract as it is and sell for a substantial fee, in line with the club’s long-standing buy-develop-sell model.

It is also worth remembering that a new contract does not stop a player leaving. If a bigger club offers a significant sum and the player wants to go, an improved deal may make little difference. The more effective protection is a high release price, not necessarily a higher salary.

For that reason, any move on Makhanya is likely to be the most delicate of the three. It requires a balance between recognising his contribution and preserving the club’s resale value

Taken together, the three cases show that contract management is becoming a central part of Rangers’ strategy. The club has just completed a major summer rebuild, bringing in 14 players, and is now in a phase of consolidation. Some of those players are already outperforming expectations. Others, such as Nicolas Raskin, are in a different situation, with their long-term future uncertain.

This matters because the club’s model depends on timing. Rangers have long sought to buy young players, develop them and sell at a profit. Done well, that cycle funds further recruitment and keeps the squad refreshed. Done badly, it leaves the club with departing players on small fees or, worse, free transfers.

A new contract is a tool in that strategy. It can extend a player’s stay, increase his value, or signal to rivals that he is not available cheaply. But it can also be an expensive gamble if the player’s form drops or if he leaves anyway.

The question for Rangers is therefore not whether to offer new deals but to whom, when and on what terms.

There is no single right answer, but a few principles apply.

Prioritise based on risk and reward. Players whose value is rising fastest and whose contracts are shortest should come first. On that basis, Sterling’s situation is the most urgent in terms of timing, while Naderi’s is the most valuable in terms of potential return. Makhanya’s is the least pressing, given his long contract.

Use incentives. Bonuses linked to appearances, goals and team success can reward performance without committing the club to large fixed costs. This is especially useful for a player with an injury history, like Sterling.Set release terms. Where a player is likely to attract interest, a fixed release clause or agreed price range gives both sides clarity.

Be consistent. The dressing room notices how players are treated. A transparent approach, with improvements based on performance and length of service, helps maintain harmony.Avoid overreaction. Good form is encouraging, but it is not a guarantee. Offering a large rise to a player after a short run is risky.

Fans tend to want their best players to stay, and they often grow frustrated when a club appears slow to act. There is a natural anxiety around any player who is attracting attention, particularly in a league where the biggest clubs lose their best talent regularly.

But there is also a pragmatic understanding. Rangers, as a club that has to balance ambition with financial realities, cannot match the wages of the richest leagues. The best they can do is manage the process wisely. That means acting early, making fair offers and recognising when a sale is in the club’s interest.

The mood around Ibrox is also unusually upbeat at the moment. The back-to-back derby wins, the encouraging start to the season and the sense that McInnes has found a balance have lifted spirits. Keeping that momentum requires holding on to the players who are driving it.

Several developments will show how the situation unfolds.

Naderi’s debut for Czechia. He is expected to be available for Saturday’s match against Spain. A good performance would enhance his profile further, and potentially his value.

Contract announcements. Any news of talks or agreements with Sterling or Naderi will be closely watched.

Makhanya’s performances. If he continues at his current level, the pressure to act will increase.

Interest from other clubs. Reports of formal approaches would accelerate the process.

Form and fitness. Injuries or dips in performance could change the calculation entirely.

The Ibrox News article makes a simple point that carries a lot of weight: Rangers have players who are playing well, and the best time to secure them is now. Ryan Naderi has become a vital part of McInnes’ attack, with a work rate that even sceptical pundits have praised. Dujon Sterling has been one of the team’s most consistent performers, a favourite of his manager who is entering a period where decisions will need to be made. And Olwethu Makhanya, despite only just arriving, has been so impressive that his contract is already on the agenda.

None of these is a straightforward case. Naderi’s run is short. Sterling’s contract length is reported differently by different outlets, and his injury history demands caution. Makhanya is already under contract for years, so any move is as much about retention as security.

But the underlying principle is sound. Clubs that wait until a player’s value has peaked, or until another club has made an approach, usually find themselves negotiating from a weaker position. Those that act early, with clear terms and a sensible structure, tend to keep control.

For Rangers, the next few weeks are an opportunity. The club has a squad in form, a manager with confidence, and a set of players who have shown what they can do. Turning that success into lasting stability is the challenge. If they manage it, the autumn’s good work could be the foundation for something more durable. If they do not, they risk watching some of their best performers become someone else’s good news