Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has finally spoken out about speculation linking him to a big-money move to China, revealing that he is happy at Ibrox for now.
Colombian striker Morelos has been the subject of several bids from Chinese Super League side Beijing Renhe, who have submitted offers up to £10million for the 21-year-old.
The China transfer window remains open until the end of February, and there has been suggestions that Renhe will return with a further improved bid for Morelos.
However, the striker has now insisted he is happy in Scotland, and revealed his ultimate aims are to play in the Premier League and for his country.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, Morelos said: “I play in a country very close to the English Premier League and I think that many teams are watching me. So I am very happy with what I am doing right now. I have a positive mentality and if a team in England showed serious interest in me, it would be very exciting.”
“I am happy at Rangers and satisfied with how I am playing. Scottish football is very quick. You have no time on the ball, it’s very physical and the ball is in the air a lot. The fans are passionate and Scottish football is intense.
“My ambition is to play for my country and I need to keep doing what I have been doing. So far, I have not had any communication from the coaching staff of the Colombia team, but I hope I will. I want to put Colombia on the map in European football.”
Morelos is the Premiership’s top scorer this season with 12 goals so far, and has scored 16 in all competitions for the Light Blues since his £1million summer move from Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki.
OPINION
While it will be good for fans to hear Morelos speak out about the China speculation, his words will not instill any confidence that he intends to stay at Ibrox for long. This is obviously a very ambitious young striker, who has extremely clear aims, and if he continues his goalscoring form between now and the end of the season, there is no reason why both of those goals will not come true by the summer. The silver lining here is that it looks as though Morelos will at least stay until the end of the season, hopefully firing Rangers to some silverware in the process.