Former Premier League midfielder turned pundit, Michael Brown, has expressed that Rangers should resist offering a new contract to Alfredo Morelos despite scoring 29-goals this season.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown gives his thoughts on what Steven Gerrard should do as he looks to close the gap on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
So what has Brown said?
When asked about the rumours that Rangers had stalled on offering the striker a new deal, Brown said:
“I don’t think they need to discuss any further terms if he’s got a contract until 2023. Just carry on.
“They’re a club still trying to improve. They did exceptionally well up until Christmas, yes, they’ve fallen away, probably overachieving to where the squad was. Steven Gerrard will want better and will want to try improve that.
“I just think they don’t need to rush into it. He’s signed the contract, it’s until 2023 and as I say, the club needs to try to improve, bring players in that can help – it’s not just about giving new contracts to players on 2023 contracts.”
So is Brown correct?
Morelos will already be one of the highest earners at the club – if not the highest – and since arriving at the club in the summer of 2017 he has signed a further two new deals with his most recent in March 2019, there is no need for another, especially considering his individual form since the winter break.
With just one goal to his name since January, he has been a part of the reason why Rangers have fallen so far behind Celtic, yes, he has had his share of bad luck in having goals disallowed but he has also missed chances that he was scoring in the first-half of the season.
Morelos is likely to be sold when the transfer window eventually opens with a host of clubs in England and the continent said to be interested, Brown is right, Gerrard will want to improve the squad and perversely, by selling his best player, he may just be able to do that – if the price is right.