Rangers manager Steven Gerrard wants to hold crunch talks with Bruno Alves about his future at Ibrox after he returns from the World Cup with Portugal.
Alves is reportedly a wanted man with the Daily Record previously claiming that Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes are hoping to sign the 36-year-old this summer, however they are struggling to afford him.
It is understood that Vitoria are hoping that the Gers would release him from his £28,000-a-week contract so that he can join them on a free transfer as well as free up some of the wage budget at Ibrox, but the Light Blues are said to be willing to play hardball.
Now, Gerrard has confirmed that he is yet to speak to Alves about his future as he is letting him focus on the World Cup with Portugal, but he does want to talk with him when he is back.
“I have given him the respect he deserves and he has got very important things to focus on right now in terms of the World Cup and that should be his priority,” said Gerrard, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“I don’t think I should be phoning him and having a conversation on his domestic career just yet. There will be a time for it. “He will have a break after Portugal either win the tournament or get knocked out and then I will have a conversation with Bruno and talk to him.
“I didn’t want to go in and speak to him or try and get contact with him while he has got important things to focus on.”
OPINION
Rangers really should be considering the possibility of letting Alves leave on a free transfer this summer. It’s not ideal, but his £28,000-a-week wages are astronomical for someone in the Scottish Premiership and there’s no way that he should be allowed to stay and see out the final year of it as a fringe player. That sort of money should be reserved for key first teamers only, and having him on them wages despite not playing could upset some of Gerrard’s main men. Vitoria’s proposal is an interesting one and the Gers should really give it a second thought. It is early in the summer though and they may be more inclined into agreeing it towards the end of the transfer window when things get a bit more desperate. However there is the chance that Vitoria may have already found a new centre-back by then and will not go in for Alves again.