Qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League isn’t the be all and end all, however, it will have a pretty big say in Steven Gerrard’s transfer policy for the rest of the summer window.
Not only would the likes of Joey Veerman become a more realistic target, but, players who may have had their head’s turned elsewhere could have seen a crack at Europe’s elite competition too good an opportunity to turn down and decide to stay put – not that we’ll get to find out now.
Glen Kamara has been linked with a few teams but, in Alfredo Morelos, we have a proven performer on the continental stage and one who has made no secret of his desire to play at the highest level, after failing to make it to the promised land, his future has become an awful lot clearer with Kevin Phillips – speaking to Football Insider – believing that the destiny of both club and player are intrinsically linked:
“It [going out of the Champions League] could have a bearing on his future.
“I get the impression there are plenty of people at Ibrox, at the club, who want him gone.
“If they don’t make the Champions League Rangers could try to move him on.
“We’ve spoken about this so many times now.
“Morelos might think his time is up at Rangers if he has the desire to play in the Champions League.“
I’d take umbrage at his claims that “people at Ibrox” want him out the club, if they did, he would have been sold a long time ago but Phillips does have a point about not making the Champions League, we may seek to make up for the lost revenue by cashing in on one of our most valuable assets – with two-years left on his current deal, there isn’t a better time to sell, if that’s what we decide to do.
Will Morelos be at Rangers when the transfer window shuts?
Yes
No
Morelos wants to play in the Champions League, he did his part against Malmo, it’s just a shame his team-mates at the other end didn’t do theirs, if he does stick around though, scoring the goals that win us the league guarantees group stage football next year and in the process, probably earn himself a decent pay rise and a new contract.
It’s a sliding doors moment and one we will only really know the answer to when the transfer window shuts, if he fires us into the Europa League groups it will, at least, provide us with some sort of consolation before he goes, if he goes.