Rangers FC had sent out Ryan Hardie on loan to Livingston at the start of 2018 and the centre-forward was expected to stay there until the end of the season.
But Steven Gerrard chose to call him back during the January transfer window hinting that the youngster could stay at Ibrox for the second half of the season.
Then the Gers went on to sign Jermain Defoe from AFC Bournemouth meaning, the club now had four centre-forwards amongst their ranks.
This caused a fair bit of stir amongst the Gers fans who claimed that Ryan Hardie would just rot amongst the ranks.
Now though the Teddy Bears have revealed their future plans regarding Ryan Hardie.
The club have confirmed that the 21-year-old has signed a one-year contract extension meaning he will stay at the club until 2020.
Rangers have also confirmed that Ryan Hardie will head back to Livingston on loan until the end of the season.
The Ibrox outfit released an official statement which read: “RANGERS are pleased to announce Ryan Hardie has agreed a one-year extension to his current contract, keeping him at Ibrox until the summer of 2020.
“The 21-year-old will head back out on-loan for the rest of the season to Livingston, with whom he has played seven times so far. He has scored five goals – with all five strikes coming in his last five matches – and will return to Rangers in the summer.”
After signing the extension, Ryan Hardie told the Rangers official website:
“I’m absolutely delighted. Obviously, the first time I was involved this season was the trip to Tenerife, and I was over the moon with that chance to go and show what I can do as it was the first time I had been away with the manager.
“When he came in at first, I was injured and I only got playing again at the start of December, so that trip was a chance to show the gaffer what I was about.
“He would have seen what I was like from afar, but he just wanted to have a look at me and assess me with a view to next year. Thankfully I have done enough to secure another contract and I am looking forward to kicking on.”
Ryan Hardie has been in red hot form for Livingston this season – scoring five goals in just seven appearances.
Now it remains to be seen if the forward has a future at Ibrox or have the Gers just extended the current deal so that they can sell Ryan Hardie off during the summer transfer window.
Read: ‘This’ midfielder-cum-winger has revealed that he will not be joining Rangers in January.
Read: Rangers could see ‘this’ key player leave Ibrox during the January transfer window.
