Celtic hero John Hartson says Rangers have gone backwards, makes bold Alfredo Morelos claim
Alfredo Morelos will “no doubt” be leaving Rangers in the summer with the club having “gone backwards” since last season, says John Hartson.
The former Celtic striker considers the Colombian goal scorer and English winger Ryan Kent two of the Gers’ “best” players in recent years and sees the certain exit of one, and possible departure of the other, as big issues for the blue half of Glasgow.
Playing time behind summer arrival Antonio Colak is Hartson’s key reason why Morelos won’t remain at Ibrox beyond the end of the season, with the club reeling from the worst Champions League group stage campaign just months after a Europa League final.
Speaking on Go Radio, as per Football Scotland, Hartson said: “Morelos in the period that he has been at Rangers, he’s been the number one striker. [Steven] Gerrard fancied him and played him all the time. He’s got over 100 goals. Give him credit for that.
“He’s unpredictable but now when you see another striker coming in, he plays now in fits and starts. He wants to be number one. It’s affecting him. It’s affecting his confidence.
“His contract is up at the end of the season and there is no doubt for me he will leave because he’s not playing regular at this moment in time.
“They have got other problems as well with [Ryan] Kent with his contract running down. Arguably two of the best Rangers players in the last four or five years. Best performers and getting them to the Europa League Final last season.
“In terms of how far they have dropped, particularly in Europe. I know it is different the Europa League and Champions League but some of the performances show they have not moved forward and almost gone backwards.”
Symptom or cause?
Rangers are struggling right now, that much is painfully clear, with the form and influence of Morelos and Kent a key factor.
Credit to Colak, he has done very well in replacing El Bufalo’s output in terms of finding the net, but they are different players and arguably the whole line-up suffers without a one-man wrecking crew occupying the opposition defence.
His injury last season, and the fall out that saw him dropped earlier this season mean that there has been little chance of him getting into a rhythm again, and with the Croatian international scoring regularly he has to start.
Barring an unforeseen turn of events it is hard to see Morelos signing a new deal, or the club wanting to pay him enough to do so, based on the current situation.
The same is true with Kent, and the pair’s loss of form has to be part of the reason that the club have fallen away so badly in Europe compared to the memorable nights last season.
They have become emblematic of the failure to adequately restock the squad since the high point two summers ago, and unless there is a managerial change that sparks them both into life it feels like their Ibrox careers might both be meandering to a damp squib of an end.
In other Rangers news, confusion and suspicion are growing as the club gaslight fans on the money they say they don’t have.