Writing in the Glasgow Times, Rangers ambassador Derek Johnstone has given his Alfredo Morelos valuation, while admitting he has a concern over one area of the Gers squad.
Morelos’ potential worth has been a subject of much debate in Scottish football, with Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson stating in March 2019 that the club would be looking for at least £20m [Scottish Herald].
However, former striker Johnstone believes that at this stage, it would take at least £10m more for a club to prize him away from Ibrox.
“We all know that money talks in football, and if there is a crazy offer of £30m or above, then it might be hard for the men upstairs at Rangers to say no to that kind of cash,” he wrote in the Glasgow Times.
“But I think it would take a bid of at least £30m to even come close to testing their resolve, and it would have to be early enough in the window for Rangers to source a suitable replacement.”
Meanwhile, he’s expressed one area of concern in the Gers squad, believing that with just Morelos and Jermain Defoe to call on, Gerrard is dangerously short of attacking options.
“My only worry is up top… I still worry they are a little bit light in that department,” he continued.
“What I would like to see is a big six-foot-two striker brought in to give Rangers another option. They don’t have that right now.”
Verdict
Johnstone has placed a bumper price tag on Morelos here and it’s probably a fair assumption that despite Stewart Robertson’s previous claims, it would take an offer of over £20 million to prize him away now.
However, the fact is, that even if the Gers do have a potential replacement lined up in the event of an emergency, getting rid of their star striker at this stage in the season would potentially derail their Premiership title challenge.
As a result, even £30m – as unlikely as it is that an offer that size would be tabled out of the blue – might not be enough.
As for the third striker debate, the Gers ambassador is echoing the thoughts of many Bears.
There’s something slightly concerning about entering the new year with still just two forwards to call upon. At this rate, for the first three games of 2020, Rangers won’t have an out-and-out striker to summon from the bench.
Bringing in a targetman-type player over the final two weeks of the window would give the Gers that point of difference, an alternative option when things get tight, as there will be plenty of hairy moments between now and the end of the campaign.
