PEDRO Caixinha has revealed Barrie McKay will have to wait to receive an improved contract offer from Rangers as he continues to assess his squad - and stressed he is only interested in keeping players who are fully committed to the Ibrox club.
McKay, the winger whose current deal expires at the end of next season, revealed at the weekend that Rangers had not come back to him since he rejected their initial terms earlier in the year.
Caixinha stressed he was an admirer of the 22-year-old and is keen for him to remain in Glasgow – but added there were aspects of his game he needs to improve in order to fulfil his full potential.
Read more: Derek McInnes hits back at Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha over 'strange' comments regarding Aberdeen
The Portuguese coach, whose side take on Aberdeen at Ibrox in a Ladbrokes Premeirship match this evening, is currently telling players who he feels are surplus to requirements they have no future under him.
He is likely to turn his attentions to McKay, who has scored goals in wins over Partick Thistle and Hearts in the last two games, when that process is finally completed at the end of this week.
"He needs to wait,” said Caixinha. If he is waiting then he needs to wait more, for the club to come back to him. Barrie is a great guy and a fantastic footballer, but we are assessing him and we will give him an answer as soon as possible.
“I just want players here that are keen to come here, that are keen to continue here and are here by the passion they feel for the club and the passion they have to win for the club. Otherwise if they are thinking about contract I think this is not going to be their place.”
Read more: Derek McInnes hits back at Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha over 'strange' comments regarding Aberdeen
Caixinha, though, is keen for McKay, who has been dogged by inconsistent form in the Premiership this season, to work on areas where he feels he can do better.
"He has been more proactive in the last two games,” he said. “He's been a very important player for the last two matches, scoring twice like Joe Garner too. They are two players living a good moment and football is about good moments. We now need to extend that. But I still want more from him.
"What does he need to do more? He needs to be more proactive. The game is a lot of phases and stages and I want all the players to be keen on the game. If things are not coming they need to look for it. When he needs to sacrifice he needs to do that as well.
“I’ve just known him since I arrived, but he has conditions to give more, definitely. When I work with the players I can work two or three months with them, I can work two or three years with them, but I always try to help them to improve.
“When I am saying something to one player, if he is going to stay here or rather if he is going to go, I am trying to help him if he continues or not. Because if something I believe that he’s going to change, he’s going to be a better player. So I am trying to help him independently if he is going to continue or not.
“That’s what I want from my players and the relation we have with our players. He needs to, generally, be much more proactive in all the phases of the game.”
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