Graeme Murty has said that interest from Chinese side Beijing Renhe has left Alfredo Morelos ‘confused’ but he wants the youngster to stay and achieve his goals at Rangers.
Speaking to the BBC following the Scottish Cup win over Fraserburgh, Murty confirmed the speculation linking the Chinese side with our top scorer and insisted that he didn’t want to lose him six months after his arrival, but the speculation had unsettled the lad because he knew if some of the figures that have been bandied around turn out to be true, he could more than take care of his family and enjoy a very comfortable life.
The main figure doing the rounds is an £8million bid but the transfer window is now closed in this country so we can’t secure a replacement regardless of what they pay, but remains open in China until the end of February so this one isn’t going to get a quick resolution for Morelos.
Speaking about the 21 year old, Murty explained.
‘He is confused at the minute because there are figures being bandied about which would turn anyone’s head. It’s almost designed to confuse and unsettle.’
With 13 goals so far this season Morelos was rested and remained an unused substitute for the Fraserburgh tie and it’s probably a safe bet that was related to the current situation as well.
‘The message I have had is that I don’t need to sell anyone for any economic imperative. I have to make a football decision based on us closing the gap at the top and being competitive in every competition we’re in. I’ve made that decision, I want Alfredo to be here. Unless we can go out and spend any money that comes in to strengthen us and make us better it makes no sense to have economic pleasure in the short term but then weaken our challenge in the long term.’
Murty went on to say.
‘We have to make sure Alfredo understands our position because we are not trying to derail anything for him, we are just trying to take care of him and the club at the same time. We believe we can do that, we believe we can get him to the next level. It’s down to us, me and the club, to make sure he feels loved by us and respected by us. He’s not expressed a desire to leave, we have conveyed our feelings to him and he’s conveyed his feelings to us.’
Talking up the player, he added.
‘We have talked about his ultimate aims and desires, I feel he has the capacity to be an international player for his country. He can do that by being the top scorer in Scotland and building on his game. I honestly believe we can enhance him and do that here. There is no reason for him to be frustrated, he is still a young man. He has been a pleasure to work with the whole time, he’s not been disruptive – there has been none of that.’
