Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos might be holding out for a move to the English Premier League, but it’s the powerbrokers at Ibrox who hold all the aces regarding the Colombian’s future.
Rangers have been clear in the past that Morelos will remain at Ibrox until they’ve received a fee or a bid deserving of his abilities and that remains unlikely to change heading into next season.
Morelos himself has never once denied his ambitions to head south of the border and there’s little doubt his performances up north and in Europe will have some sniffing around.
The 24-year-old forward reiterated this to Colombian media in the week, telling Radio Caracol that there will be sides watching his progress in the Europa League and Premier League football is his ambition.
“One of my big dreams is to play in the English Premier League. It is one of the best leagues in the world and there are a lot of important players and important teams,” said Morelos.
“So if the opportunity presents itself in my career, I am going to take it.”
But Rangers have been stern with interest before and reportedly beat off a £16.25m bid from Lille in Ligue 1 last season [Daily Mail], holding out for the £20m Morelos is certainly worth in today’s market.
Ibrox sporting director Ross Wilson was also clear last week that the Gers will need to move players on as part of the recruitment model but reiterated this would only be done on Rangers’ terms.
“We have to be a strong player-trading club. That means we have to sell well and buy well,” Wilson told the Telegraph, adding deals would only be made “at the right time”.
Wilson was also clear that it is not “inevitable” that any players currently performing well have got to leave Ibrox.
This may well be the last campaign we get to enjoy the fiery El Bufalo rampaging across the forward line at Ibrox but if Morelos does move on then it is clear that it’ll be for a price the club deems suitable.
Contracted until 2023 and with Champions League football on the horizon, from Morelos’ point of view there is still plenty of incentive to see out another year at Ibrox whatever happens.
But gone are the days when Rangers devalue their top talent and if Morelos’ dream is to be realised, then the club will also stand to benefit.
There’s plenty of transfer talk ramping up ahead of the new season and Rangers have been linked with a pre-contract deal for an African international striker plying his trade down south.
