Alfredo Morelos can win Rangers exit to ‘good club’ if he shines v Celtic – BBC Scotland pundit
Mark Hateley has suggested Alfredo Morelos can earn himself a “good” transfer away from Rangers if he shines against Celtic on Sunday.
Michael Beale’s side are set to face The Hoops at Hampden Park on Sunday afternoon (25 February) in the final of the ViaPlay Cup.
Morelos’ future has been a talking point and the former Gers’ striker has suggested he a good performance could increase the Colombian’s chances of securing a positive move away.
“Alfredo Morelos has to play up front for Rangers. He brings a lot to the game outside of the box – a lot more than Colak – and he has the experience of this fixture,” Hateley told the Get Involved Referee podcast (quoted by the Scottish Daily Express, 23 February).
“Morelos has also shown he can play against good defenders in good teams. He has the equipment to deal with it. I would like to see him pin defenders a bit more and get them half-turned.
“The other aspect is that Morelos is out of contract this summer so if he is leaving and wants to find a good club, this is the stage he must perform on.”
Job at hand
Considering Morelos’ revival under Beale, it would be a shame if he didn’t put pen to paper on a new deal at Ibrox. The Colombian could now leave the club for free in the summer, but it wouldn’t make sense for him to move elsewhere. Obviously, there are financial implications, but if he wants to play consistently, then staying at Ibrox is by far the smartest move.
He will be a consistent starter under Beale and would be the focal point of the Light Blues’ attack in the 2023/24 campaign. Furthermore, considering the signings the Gers have already made, it would be such a shame for the 26-year-old not to stick around and be part of what promises to be a bright future.
For now, Morelos’ future will have to be put on the back burner as Beale prepares his side for a hectic end of the season.
This weekend’s cup final promises to be an important moment in the context of the season. A win for Rangers could give Beale’s men the edge in the remaining Old Firm clashes and open a genuine chance of them chasing Celtic down in the title race.
In other Rangers news, the club are in line for a multi-million windfall from the Premier League after a £10m Auchenhowie milestone was reached.