Michael Beale makes major Alfredo Morelos decision behind the scenes at Rangers amid exit speculation
Michael Beale wants to keep Alfredo Morelos at Rangers as exit speculation ramps up with his contract set to expire in the summer, say The Sun.
Colombian striker Morelos has been the first-choice striker at the club for several seasons, scoring 115 goals in 243 appearances for the club, but has found himself behind Antonio Colak in the team this season.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, speculation has been rampant that he could leave the club for regular football elsewhere but Beale has reportedly made his decision on the player’s future already.
“He is keen to keep out- of-contract duo Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, but both players have been criticised for their performances this season,” they wrote (4 December).
Kent is also out of contract in the summer, and both players have struggled massively with their performances this season as Rangers sit nine points behind Celtic in the SPFL title race.
No shock
When Beale arrived at the club as manager, many people were hopeful that it would also mean the return to form of Morelos and Kent as two of the best players at Ibrox.
Beale obviously worked with both while he was Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Ibrox and they were key players as we won number 55, so the hope is that they can recapture that form and help us get to 56 as soon as possible.
But with their contract status up in the air and both players able to speak to clubs abroad from January about a free transfer, Beale will want to know that they are committed to Rangers before making them key parts of his team.
Colak has been more than deserving of his place in the side as the Rangers top scorer this season, and Rabbi Matondo hasn’t done much to show that he should take Kent’s place.
But the boss will look to ensure that all standards are maintained and if Morelos and Kent aren’t what they once were then nobody will bat an eyelid if they are to move on, because this soap opera on the side has been draining for months.
In other Rangers news, sources share major injury news as Beale and Wilson are grilled off-camera