“I think maybe he is one that has maybe been around here too long and maybe needs to re-bolt himself.”

It feels like Glen Kamara’s Rangers career has meandered towards an unspectacular end.

While Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor received a rapturous farewell at Ibrox, Kamara’s withdrawal against Hearts slipped under the radar, perhaps waving an understated goodbye. 

The Finnish international wasn’t involved against St Mirren, despite no suggestion of an injury. 

Michael Beale's focus has turned to the future, with a growing sense of excitement amongst Rangers supporters about what it entails.

The early announcements of Dujon Sterling and Kieran Dowell indicate Rangers’ proactive approach in the transfer market and it’s understood that another couple of transfers are close to confirmation. 

But it was the January arrivals of Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin that look to have signalled the end of the road for Kamara. 

They say there is no place for sentiment in football and like with Morelos and Kent, there is a general acceptance that it’s best for all parties for Kamara to seek a new adventure this summer. 

It’s no secret that Beale holds the former Dundee man in high regard, rightly so, and he spoke openly about the midfielder’s future in his final press conference of the season. 

He said: “Me and the staff’s relationship with Glen is really strong. Neil Banfield was one of the heads of Arsenal when he was coming through. He is a boy that I was quite influential in bringing to the club and I have gone on a journey with him. I think he played 10 out of the first 11 games when I came here.

“We didn’t play very well as a team in the cup final and we made changes with Nico and Todd coming in. Everyone else in midfield had to fight for one position.

READ MORE: Inside Rangers' 'deal of the century' to sign Glen Kamara from Dundee

“Glen will go away with Finland in the summer and we will see what happens. I think Glen needs the break to really consider where he is at in his career and what he wants to do.

“The midfield that played the most the year we won the championship was Davis, Arfield and Kamara. That midfield has broken up for different reasons, age and people being out of contract.

“I think Glen is at a stage of his career at 27 where he is either going to be here now for the rest of his career and dig in and have a really strong pre-season – because when I came in he had an ankle problem he couldn’t get over.

“We kicked the operation into touch because we had a lot of injuries and Glen played through that for a period, then we gave him a chance to settle. He has not got back in the team because the boys that are playing have played very well. For Glen, everything is open really. He is either going to be here for a considerable future or we will probably sell him this summer.

“I think he needs to look at the competition that’s here in pre-season and decide whether there is going to be enough football for him.”

Beale proposed two options for Kamara; a long-term future at Ibrox or exit this summer. 

Of those two options, it’s difficult to mount a convincing argument for the former.

A fresh start can rejuvenate Kamara's career. It feels like the time is right to bid farewell to arguably one of the best value-for-money signings in the club’s history. 

The £50,000 that Rangers paid Dundee in 2019 proved to be inspired business for a player who played a hugely important role in the title win under Steven Gerrard and the Europa League final run. 

Beale recently spoke about how history will reflect kindly on some players departing this summer and that will certainly be the case with Kamara. 

At his best, Kamara was outstanding for Rangers and that should not be forgotten. He possesses the technical ability required to be a top-level midfielder and his signature body feints make him extremely press resistant. 

The 27-year-old’s football intelligence and speed of thought remain on another level to opponents and he often shone brightest on the European stage. 

Performances in the latter rounds of the Europa League last season were of the highest level and Kamara was a virtual ever-present as Rangers won 55. 

With a skillset suited to playing on the continent, a move to France would seem his likeliest destination this summer. A number of Ligue 1 clubs have shown interest previously. 

Kamara should be entering his peak years at 27 and Rangers will sell from a position of relative strength with two years remaining on his contract should that option be chosen this summer.

If, as expected, he departs in the coming months, Rangers will net a significant profit on their investment. Kamara should be remembered fondly for his notable contributions over the years, but it looks like saying goodbye is the correct approach.