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Barcelona lead transfer chase as on form Real Madrid slayer shows Rangers the way

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Rangers have yet to fully implement a functional player trading model even if Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen made a positive start this summer.

The Light Blues director of recruitment detailed what the plan was going to be to rebuild the squad and how they were going to bring short and long term success back to Ibrox.

One of the pillars of a successful model is selling players at the right time and Rangers will need to avoid the mistakes of the past of things are to change.

Stade Reims v Lille OSC - Ligue 1
Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

Jonathan David transfer speculation serves as Rangers model reminder

The best example in recent years has been Alfredo Morelos with one transfer rumour showing exactly how things are done.

There was a time when Rangers valued Morelos at £20m.

A figure borne out of the fee Celtic got for Moussa Dembele.

Rangers learned the hard way that selling at the right time is an art form when a £16.25m bid from Lille was turned down with the presumption that the Ligue 1 outfit would up their offer.

They didn’t, and instead spent big on Jonathan David, who now counts Barcelona, Man Utd, Arsenal and AC Milan as potential suitors – with the Spaniards leading the way, according to Diario Sport.

His stock will only have risen again after firing his side to an unlikely victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.

With a goals per minute ratio better than Erling Haaland, his stock has never been higher.

David is clearly waiting for the right offer to come along and explained during the transfer window that he was in no rush to leave France:

“There were a couple of offers and we just didn’t finish the deal, that’s it.

“I spoke to a couple of teams. I spoke with coaches. But ultimately (David and his inner circle) made the decision to stay.

“Right now we’re speaking with (Letang) about a possible extension,” David also told The Athletic. “We’ll see how that goes.”

“I’m open to anything. I think obviously the Premier League is regarded as one of the best leagues in the world.

“And for me, it’s not the Premier League or bust. I’m open to anything and every league has its challenges.”

What might have been for Morelos

Compare and contrast to the fortunes of Alfredo Morelos.

Now on loan in Colombia, the former Gers striker has dropped back down to where he started when he should be at his peak.

The offers he expected when his Rangers contract expired never materialised and he has struggled to find form since.

At the peak of his powers, Morelos was regularly bullying elite level defenders like Pepe and Mats Hummels.

Had he left in 2019 or 2020 and signed for Lille, it may have been the recognition that Morelos to prove how good he can be on a more consistent basis.

He didn’t, and the consequence is that the chances of him ever being linked with Man Utd, Arsenal or AC Milan are long gone.