According to a recent report by the Daily Express, Ligue 1 side Lille are said to be preparing a fresh approach to try and acquire the services of Rangers’ Colombian international centre-forward Alfredo Morelos. The report arose prior to the Gers’ 2-0 victory against Kilmarnock on Saturday – a fixture in which Morelos wasn’t even involved in the matchday squad. Steven Gerrard recently admitted that the attacker ‘doesn’t look himself’ and that could be one of the main reasons behind the striker being dropped from the team for this key Premiership encounter.
Although the report has clarified that Lille are preparing a fresh approach for Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos, whether or not he departs the Ibrox this summer remains to be seen. The forward is said to be aware of the developments that have been occurring on the Ligue 1 side’s end, and his desire to make the switch across the channel has been confirmed too.
The report further goes on to say that the attacker is unsettled in the squad and that he was not in the right frame of mind to start the league outing against Killie. While the Colombian had already agreed terms with the French club, their inability to come to terms with Rangers’ asking price came as a deterrent earlier on in the deal.
What Makes Morelos Such An Important Part Of This Team?
The Colombian international striker has been this Gers side’s driving force in attack over the last couple of seasons, and taking his presence out of the team could’ve left Gerrard’s men in a dire situation. Not only did the former Helsinki man consistently pitch in with the goals they needed, but his work-rate and enthusiasm off the ball was an important part of their system as well. Although the forward didn’t have the best of starts to the year 2020, there’s no denying the obvious quality that Morelos brings to this Rangers team.
A deadly finisher of the ball once in the area, the Colombian offers an extremely well-balanced skill-set – the kind that would be quite useful to a majority of the stronger teams in Europe. Capable of beating a man for if required, it’s worth conceding that the attacker is at his best when chasing defenders down and causing havoc at the heart of the defensive system.
What Is Rangers’ Current Strike Situation?
The league win against Kilmarnock on Saturday marked the first time that the Gers’ two summer striking acquisitions – Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten, started a match together. It was the Jamaican international who ended up getting the opening goal, but Itten’s efforts in possession didn’t go unnoticed either. With two more distinct options for Gerrard to choose from, Morelos’ playing time in the starting eleven is effectively guaranteed to decrease. The fact that the Colombian played no part in that win against Killie has cast further doubts over his current situation at the Ibrox.
Lille Are Preparing A Fresh Approach For Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos: Is It Time For Gerrard To Cash In?
The gaffer’s recent comments about the player not being his usual self since the resumption should be perceived as a bad sign by the Rangers faithful if they want the forward to stay. Although many expected some attackers to be brought in, few would’ve thought this summer would mark the arrival of two prolific goal-scorers in Itten and Roofe. With Jermain Defoe out injured and sure to re-enter the equation in the coming weeks, keeping Morelos further might not be the best idea. As things stand, the Colombian still commands a fairly hefty fee, and it would likely be in the Glasgow club’s best interest to cash in on him for as large a sum as possible before the transfer window slams shut.
