Rangers have reportedly rejected a bid of €15m (£13.7m) plus (£1.8m) €2m in add-ons for Alfredo Morelos from Ligue 1 Lille, according to a report in France.
FootMercato believe that the Ibrox side knocked back the offer – backing up claims from the likes of Andy Newport and the 4th Official – and are holding out for €20m (£18.2m).
Reliable journalist Andy Newport previously stated that Lille’s offer was “miles off” Rangers’ valuation of the firebrand striker.
These claims also refute those of BBC Scotland and STV broadcaster Raman Bhardwaj, who previously reported there had been no official offer from Lille.
The FootMercato report comes after it emerged – originally through French football journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi – that Morelos had agreed personal terms with the Ligue 1 outfit.
Rangers appear to be standing firm with their valuation of the Colombian international and will have the learned the lesson of Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian forward has just moved to Napoli for a reported £54.7m (€60m) fee, one season after joining Lille from Belgian side Charleroi.
The French outfit are said to have paid only £10.9 (€12m) for the now 21-year-old striker [ESPN].
Excluding any potential sell-on clauses included in the move, Lille made around five times the amount they spent on the player after only one season.
Whilst Rangers do not play in a top-five league like the top tier in France, Lille have the potential to make a considerable amount from Morelos should he perform on the continent.
Lille narrowly missed out on this season’s Champions League by a solitary point after the previous Ligue 1 campaign was prematurely called by French authorities.
They will now play in next season’s Europa League, a competition Alfredo Morelos is the top goalscorer overall in this season with 14 strikes.
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