According to Don Balon, Newcastle United could make a move for Rangers attacker Alfredo Morelos. The Magpies are keen to undergo a squad overhaul, especially in the department this summer, with the club reportedly on the verge of a takeover.
The report claims that the attacking trio of Yoshinori Muto, Joselu and Dwight Gayle are all set to be offloaded this summer. And this could pave the way for Morelos to join Newcastle in order to fill the vacant number nine slot.
Alfredo Morelos’ success at Rangers
Morelos joined Rangers back in 2017 for a fee of just €1.2 million from HJK Helsinki. And the Colombian has become an instant hit in the Scottish Premiership, scoring 14 goals in his debut campaign last season.
He has enjoyed an even better run of form under new manager Steven Gerrard in the recently concluded season, netting 17 goals in 27 matches – ending the campaign as the league’s top scorer. The 22-year-old also registered eight assists – making him the joint most productive player in the league, alongside teammate James Tavernier. Morelos’ service in front of goal played a critical role in helping Rangers finish second in the league table, 11 points ahead of third-placed Kilmarnock.
What can Morelos bring to the table?
Morelos is an opportunistic striker. He lurks in and around the penalty box and loves to make runs in behind opposition defences. Much like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Colombian has a great sense of positioning and often appears to be in the right place at the right time.
Despite boasting a lean figure, Morelos is a feisty striker quite difficult to be shrugged off the ball. Aside from that, the 22-year-old is blessed with a decent amount of pace that makes him a genuine threat from counter-attacks.
However, Morelos has grave disciplinary issues. He has been sent off four times this past season and often loses control over his temper when things don’t go his way. His red card against Celtic in one of the gone by Old Firm derby underlines the point that he still cannot be trusted in crunch situations.
Should Newcastle make a move for Morelos?
Morelos will not be a shrewd choice for Newcastle as his style of play heavily depends on the team’s overall chance creation. That means the Rangers forward is unlikely to impress if the service isn’t top-notch, which is something Newcastle could struggle with given the fact that they play with very little possession.
Newcastle like to play as a cohesive unit and therefore, having someone like Morelos, who can easily get sent off certainly won’t help their cause. His lack of concentration and patience also means that the Colombian won’t be as effective as Salomon Rondon was during the 2017/18 campaign.
Hence, he is a risky option for the Magpies and it would perhaps be wiser to the Toon to end their pursuit of the Rangers forward this summer.
