Alfredo Morelos arrives at Rangers training ground amid exit talk, Michael Beale in Glasgow
Alfredo Morelos has been pictured arriving back at Rangers training amid ongoing speculation over his future ahead of Michael Beale’s announcement.
The Colombian forward was key for the Light Blues during the Steven Gerrard era, where the new manager was an influential assistant.
But after producing some of his best football at Ibrox last season under the now-fired Giovanni van Bronckhorst prior to injury, his form and fitness has fallen away during the current campaign as his contract approaches its end, with Fenerbahce the latest club linked to a move [Fanatik, 16 November].
With Beale to be announced as the Dutchman’s replacement later on Monday (28 November) according to Telegraph journalist Sam Wallace late on Sunday night, and the exit-linked striker was one of the players spotted by Sky Sports cameras arriving at Auchenhowie to meet with the new manager.
The squad had time off for the World Cup break but are now back as they look to prepare for a major improvement when league action restarts.
Reprive?
Antonio Colak has been the main man this season following his summer arrival, leading the SPFL scoring charts with 11 goals, from 14 in total.
Morelos was dropped from the squad by Van Bronckhorst earlier in the campaign, but after being brought back in has failed to approach his best.
A January exit seemed the most likely outcome under the previous regime, with the new contract that had previously been under discussion appearing to be a ship that had long sailed.
But with one of Beale’s primary selling points to the Ibrox board being his connection with the squad, as well as Ross Wilson, whom he has worked with previously the door may have opened for the Colombian to be brought back into the fold in earnest.
It will require a major turnaround in form for that to become likely, but if the new manager is to galvanise the team and threaten to reel in Celtic at the top of the table a fully fit Morelos finding the net on a regular basis would be a major boost.
They may be set to miss a day on the training pitches together but if Beale is in place imminently he should get close to the maximum amount of time with his players before the return to action next month, with a friendly with Bayer Leverkusen set for 10 December.
In other Rangers news, one unpopular board member’s job is now indisputably at risk at Ibrox as Michael Stewart suggested Van Bronckhorst isn’t the only man who deserved to leave the club.