Champions League exit could force Rangers to accept cut-price Alfredo Morelos deal
Rangers may be forced to accept a lower fee for Alfredo Morelos with Porto still in pursuit of the Colombian centre-forward, according to A Bola.
The Portuguese news outlet claims the 25-year-old is the number one target to replace Moussa Marega at the Estadio do Dragao after the Mali international left for Saudia Arabian club Al Hilal earlier this summer.
Porto have been “trying to seduce” Morelos with a salary higher than the one he receives in Glasgow, with the offer of guaranteed Champions League football this year also proposed as an incentive.
That’s something that may pique his interest even more now after the Gers were dumped out of the competition by Malmo last week, and A Bola report that disappointment could see Rangers lower their £12.7million valuation of Morelos.
The South American forward has allegedly been giving “clear signs” that he intends to leave Ibrox this summer, and that scenario is said to be more viable now that the Light Blues have exited Europe’s premier club competition.
Price of failure
There have been noises over Morelos’ future all summer, and one would think he or his agent would have come out to shoot down reports and rumours if he was set on staying at Rangers for the forthcoming season.
As it is, the signs are that the Colombia international wants to quit Ibrox, and a move could be accelerated after Gerrard’s men failed to qualify for the Champions League groups stage following two defeats to Malmo in the third round of qualifying.
Morelos has spent four seasons at Rangers since his move from HJK Helsinki in 2017, becoming a fan favourite for his all-action displays that have seen him net 95 goals in his Light Blues career so far.
However, it’s hard to deny him the chance to spread his wings and test his abilities in the Champions League – Morelos has proven himself in the Europa League, and he is primed to take the next step in his career.
Of course, we need to receive a fair fee for our talisman, but if an acceptable bid is submitted he should be allowed to pursue his Champions League dream after our catastrophic failure against Malmo.
In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit has suggested that Light Blues stars are set to exit Ibrox as the club looks to balance their books.