Former Rangers striker, Billy Dodds, has backed Steven Gerrard to cash in on Alfredo Morelos, but only if an offer is too good to turn down.
Speaking to BBC Scotland (via The Daily Record), Dodds still feels that the Colombian international could be around next season though.
So what has Dodds said?
When asked to reflect on rumours of a £15million bid from Rennes and interest from Qatar, he said:
“If they get that sort of money, I’d certainly be thinking of cashing in.
“So if that kind of money comes in, and I’m not sure it will, if I was Gerrard, I’d cash in and try to go another direction in stopping Celtic winning 10 in a row.
“There was a time when Gerrard was saying, ‘No chance. I don’t care what sort of bid it is. He’s playing so well for us and is so important to us’.
“But that’s when the form was good. So I’m sure the manager’s mindset is changing.
“Rennes said they’ll pay £15m for him and there are other clubs in Qatar. I’m not so sure clubs are in a position to pay that sort of money just now, so that’s me saying there’s a good chance of him being at Rangers still.”
So is Dodds correct?
There is a conception that Morelos’s form nose dived after the winter break because he stopped scoring goals, and because of this, Rangers are now willing to get rid of him.
After serving his three game suspension Morelos returned – prematurely- from injury and scored two perfectly good goals that were disallowed by inept officiating, his and the team’s confidence would’ve been drastically different had they rightly stood.
Morelos was still getting into good positions and making the goalkeepers earn their money, the picture being painted is one of a disinterested player trying to force a move out of the club – the team as a whole was underperforming not just one individual – Rangers are noticeably poorer in his absence.
Rangers should hold out for their valuation of Morelos given the upward trajectory of his development, in any case, a move to Rennes or Qatar – regardless of the £15m fee – is hardly the career progression that the Europa League’s top scorer deserves when he does decide to pack his bags and leave Glasgow.