Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos has been one of the standout players in the Scottish Premiership over recent seasons, and it’s not surprising at all that some of the biggest teams in England are after his signature. While a switch to the likes of Leicester City or West Ham United, as has been linked by The Sun, would obviously be massive for the Colombian’s development, the fact remains that Alfredo Morelos is a vital part of this Rangers setup.
How Has Morelos Made A Name For Himself At The Ibrox?
When Rangers secured the signing of Colombian international forward Alfredo Morelos from Finnish club HJK Helsinki, not too many expected him quite to reach the heights that he’s achieved at the Ibrox Stadium. Having just turned 21 and never even laid a foot in one of the top five European leagues before, it did come as a surprise when the diminutive forward started delivering the goods.
Now 23, the Colombian is arguably the most important member of Steven Gerrard’s squad at Rangers. If it weren’t for his influence leading the line, the Gers wouldn’t be at the same level as they currently find themselves. The Independiente Medellin academy graduate has been right at the centre of everything positive that this team has produced over the last few years, and Rangers must go all out to keep Morelos at the Ibrox.
What Does Alfredo Morelos Bring To The Table?
The forward, who is set to turn 24 later this month, is one of the deadliest finishers in the European game, and that’s quite possibly the biggest compliment he can receive. Similar to Manchester City’s Argentine sensation Sergio Aguero in his playing style, the little Colombian also adds energy and sheer combativeness to the Gers’ front-line. Like Aguero himself, the former Medellin man has the uncanny ability to hit the target from improbable ranges and angles, while his hold up play can be deceptively strong too.
While there have been multiple question marks about the Colombian’s raging temper, the fact remains that it’s the 23-year-old’s feet that end up doing most of the talking. His 46 appearances across all competitions for the Ibrox side this season have resulted in an impressive return of 29 goals, while the forward has notched up 77 goals in his 137 Rangers fixtures. Having made his debut for the Colombian National side midway through 2018, the striker has gone on to pick up a total of six international caps as well.
Alfredo Morelos Is A Vital Part Of This Rangers Setup: Do They Have The Firepower Required To Replace Him?
Rangers have acquired the services of two very different kinds of strikers just throughout the current league season, but despite this, Alfredo Morelos has still been required to provide most of the goals. Florian Kamberi, as good as he did look at times, is set to return to Hibernian at the end of the campaign. Jermaine Defoe is 37 now, and depending on a veteran of his age could be a disaster waiting to happen.
This means that unless Rangers can spend money on a readymade replacement for Morelos, they will struggle to maintain the level of consistency they’ve achieved over the last couple of years. Morelos’ goals and sheer work-rate simply cannot be underplayed, while his utter feistiness, often mistaken for arrogance, is something that makes the knees of most Premiership defenders tremble. Letting Morelos go at the right price will be an easy task for the manager, but the real challenge will begin when Gerrard tries to replace him with another name.
