The early signs are that Steven Gerrard is building what could turn into a very impressive Rangers team but he has been hit by a bid for his first-choice striker, Alfredo Morelos.
Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux have reportedly made an offer for the Colombian hitman, but it has been rejected as the Liverpool icon is still very keen to hold onto his top marksman.
Morelos experienced a mixed week last week, sent off in the first half of the first game of the season – although his dismissal was later rescinded – before putting in an expert performance in the first leg against Maribor as Rangers built a two-goal lead.
On the back of another eventful week, where he must put transfer speculation behind him and focus on putting in a strong performance in an important European game – just as his captain James Tavernier did in the first leg last week, following interest from West Brom on English transfer deadline day.
With that in mind, he has been offered advice on his temperament by Rangers hero Kris Boyd. The Scottish striker said: “Pedro Caixinha said last year that Morelos is easily wound up. It’s something you have to deal with as a young player. You’re playing for Rangers, you’re scoring goals, you’re a threat – teams will try to do something to put you off. He is a handful but that’s just the way he is.
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“I remember last year we were playing against them in a closed-doors game and the referee was going to send him off. You can’t change him but if he’s getting involved in little incidents he doesn’t need to then that’s something he has to brush up on.
“You need to pick and choose your moments to have a go back. He needs to learn to ignore things because he is going to be a target for defenders.”
Boyd is spot on and Morelos would be wise to heed the lessons of such an experienced striker, who knows exactly what it’s like to lead the line for Rangers, with all the pressure and expectations that brings.
Morelos must learn to keep the aggression and fight in his game but channel it in the correct ways; working hard and leading the press but not becoming a weak link, a hot head that opponents can target.
He will only be letting his team-mates down if he doesn’t stamp it out, but Steven Gerrard – another player who had to curb the aggression he had as a youngster – is the ideal man to help him and he’ll get there.