Former England striker and pundit, Darren Bent, has claimed that Jermain Defoe will be like the proverbial “new signing” after agreeing to stay at the club beyond his loan contract.
Speaking to Football Insider, Bent feels it is a good bit of business by the Ibrox club as speculation increases about potential interest in star man Alfredo Morelos.
So what has Bent said?
The experienced Premier League striker claims that Rangers needn’t worry about the potential departure of Morelos now that they have secured Defoe and said of the deal:
“It’s fantastic because now they don’t have to worry about Morelos, if Morelos goes, fair enough but at least they’ve got someone there who can stick the ball in the net.”
“Defoe’s confirmed he’s going to be there next year and that’s almost like a new signing again because Morelos has been linked with so many clubs.”
“If he does go, because I’m sure he has aspirations of playing in the Premier League, until they find somebody at least they’ve got someone there who can find the back of the net.”
So is Bent correct?
Steven Gerrard has discovered over the first three games of 2020 that Defoe is an accomplished goalscorer but he is not a suitable replacement for Morelos given the team’s tactics and style of play.
Defoe was isolated and outmuscled in the defeat against Hearts at Tynecastle which highlighted just how important the Colombian is to the Light Blues and that they need to secure the services of another striker capable of operating on his own without Gerrard having to change his tactics.
When Morelos was suspended at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, the Gers gaffer adopted a narrower shape in midfield which allowed Scott Arfield to get closer to Defoe and it benefitted the team collectively, getting the best out of the diminutive striker.
Bent is correct to a degree though, Defoe will score goals but he has to be supported and have bodies close to him, Rangers can’t expect to play the same way with him leading the line as they do with Morelos, he does, however, offer as good a back up as you can get with the added bonus of being the perfect example of how to be a professional footballer.
Do Rangers need to sign another forward before the window closes?
Yes
No
When Morelos does eventually leave Rangers, Defoe won’t be expected to compensate for his loss but instead continue his role as a mentor to whoever replaces him and to act as support and make an impact off the bench as and when required – with 24 goals in 49 games for the Ibrox side – it is a role he has played to perfection, so far.