RANGERS boss Walter Smith today admitted he fears he could forced to sell up to eight of his top players before the new season starts.
Top scorer Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo, DeMarcus Beasley and Stevie Smith have already left Ibrox under freedom of contract.
Smith admitted he is now under pressure to ensure they don’t lose out again next summer when the contracts of Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch, Kevin Thomson, Andy Webster, Neil Alexander, Sasa Papac, Andreas Velicka and Danny Wilson expire.
Smith said: “We’ll hopefully keep the ones we’ve got.
“But if somebody did inquire, we’d have to give it serious consideration. It’s not just the club’s decision to open up negotiations.
“It’s the amount of money that the players will require and that is what we find difficult.
“A lot of them will be looking at a level of money that is outwith what we can pay.
“But the good thing for us is none of those players have so far expressed a desire to leave Rangers.”
Smith confirmed Middlesbrough have already made an approach for Thomson.
That has created speculation that former Aberdeen FC striker Lee Miller who only moved to Boro in January in a £600,000 deal, could move to Ibrox in part exchange, but Smith wouldn’t be drawn on that.
He said: “Middlesbrough are interested in Thomson, but so far nothing has happened.
“The problem is they know that we currently can’t offer anything to the boys who are out of contract at the end of the next season. It’s an awkward situation when a club shows an interest in those players.”