Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has admitted that any transfer of striker Alfredo Morelos could be taken out of his hands but reiterated that as far he is concerned the Colombian is “going nowhere”.
The Gers gaffer was talking amid huge transfer speculation surrounding the striker, intensified this week by not-so-subtle comments from Aston Villa boss Dean Smith [Birmingham Mail].
Steven Gerrard said last week that he was 100% sure Alfredo will be going nowhere in January [BT Sport] but was a little more open about the fact the decision is not entirely his to make.
“A decision like that wouldn’t have anything to do with me – because everyone knows what my answer would be – certainly with Morelos,” said Gerrard [Daily Record].
“The same goes for every player I want to stay here.
“I’d be as strong as I could be with my opinions, but I don’t own the club.
“We expect bids to land, not just for Alfredo but for all the players who are flying at the moment.
“Then that decision will be taken out of my hands.
“It’s okay saying that we have a list of replacements, but you can never predict whether a replacement would come in and do as well as the player already here.
“What club out there is going to let you buy a player as good as Morelos? It’s impossible. So it’s not going to happen.
“We’ve never had a suitable bid for him so there’s no point talking about it.
“As far as I’m concerned he’s going nowhere and we’ll be watching him for Rangers against Livingston.”
Whilst Gerrard is suitably staunch in his response to questions about Alfredo’s future, there’s still that lingering doubt about a mega bid coming in for the striker.
Clubs in the English Premier League have plenty to spend and there are fewer strikers across Europe in the kind of form Morelos is in right now.
A club may well have to break the Scottish transfer record to sign Morelos in January, but from Gerrard’s comments it’s clear the decision lies with the Board should someone try an do so.
