Newly-crowned Premiership champions Rangers have been tipped to offer new contracts to three key players ahead of their clash with Slavia Prague.

The Gers have already been crowned the Champions of Scotland, but they are still very much in the Europa League race as well. Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that progress in Europe could lead to extra wage demands from three key players.

Rangers urged to extend contracts within the next week

Agbonlahor was recently talking to Football Insider and he talked about the contractual situations of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and right-back James Tavernier. He believes that if the Gers keep playing like they are, they can go further in Europe and because of that, players could be demanding figures closer to what the Premier League sides can afford. To avoid a situation like that, Agbonlahor believes that Steven Gerrard and Ross Wilson should look to tie these three players down to new contracts by next week.

The former Aston Villa man said: “If I’m Rangers now, I’m trying to tie down my biggest players to contracts within the next week.

“If Rangers can play like they have been they can go to the latter stages of the Europa League and the players will be looking at it and thinking ‘Ok, maybe we can get wages like the Premier League boys in England.’

“It’s a good chance for Steven Gerrard to sit down with the board and say ‘Can I tie down Tavernier? Can I tie down Kent? Can I tie down Morelos?’

“The team that has won this title they have to keep together, they can’t afford to lose too many of them because you’re losing the initiative. They need to build on this squad, give the players that have done really well for him new contracts.”

Morelos' current contract at Rangers runs out in the summer of 2023. In the summer transfer window, the striker was linked with a move to Lille. Kent's contract also runs out in the summer of 2023 and Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds were interested in signing him in the summer.

Contract extensions will only help Rangers

Morelos has impressed for the Gers this season, scoring 15 times in all competitions and picking up 12 assists for the side. In the Premiership, he has ten goals and four assists (As per Transfermarkt).

Kent has also made an impact for Gerrard's men, scoring 11 times in all competitions. The former Leeds target has contributed to 17 goals in the Premiership and he has been the club's third-highest rated player in the campaign.

Tavernier though, has been Rangers' highest-rated player, while contributing to 20 goals from right-back. Considering those impressive numbers, the Gers should certainly considering handing these three players new contracts. Even if they do decide to cash in on any of the above, a longer deal will give them more negotiating power.

In other news, a former Rangers star has praised Steven Gerrard - read more here.