Rangers must keep hold of Alfredo Morelos if they are to win trophies this season, according to former assistant manager Ian Durrant.
The Colombian has been in electric form so far this season, hitting seven goals in seven Europa League qualification matches, and two strikes in two Scottish Premiership outings as well.
And Durrant, who worked under Walter Smith and Ally McCoist at Ibrox, is of the belief that he is crucial to the Gers’ hopes of lifting any silverware this term.
As quoted by the Daily Record, he said: “If you are going to win things, if you are going to win leagues and cups and have a good run in Europe, you need to keep your best players. Morelos is a key factor in that.
“Hopefully it will be quiet and Rangers can keep him, because if Rangers want to win things, they will need Alfredo Morelos this year.”
TiF Tactics – Could Rangers manage without Morelos?
First and foremost, it has to be pointed out that losing Morelos would be a worst-case scenario.
The Colombian has 57 goals and 22 assists for the Gers in a century of matches, as per Transfemarkt, and anybody who believes that a team can afford to lose that kind of presence and just keep marching on regardless is wrong, plain and simple.
Morelos has a literal 100% goalscoring record so far this term, and taking him out of the side would be a seismic blow.
But, strangely, his abject disciplinary record might actually show that Steven Gerrard’s men could get by alright.
According to Transfermarkt, Morelos served five different suspensions last year for a total absence of 10 matches. As such, the Gers are relatively used to life without their star man, and Gerrard has made alterations accordingly.
Jermain Defoe is the most obvious replacement for Morelos, and even though he is getting on a bit now, you cannot argue with his record as a clinical poacher.
This is a talent who managed an average of no less than two shots per game throughout a three-season stint at Sunderland that repeatedly involved desperate relegation battles, as per Whoscored.
In short, put him in a decent team and he will create chances and score goals.
Evidently, you want and need strength in depth for a sustained title challenge, but could the Gers manage without Morelos on a game by game basis? Yes.
Is he likely to leave?
Of course, it is difficult to ever properly know what is going on behind the scenes at a club, but Rangers fans will be hoping that were Morelos to leave this summer, he would have already gone.
Certainly, Gerrard will be doing his best to cling on to him, knowing that the period to find a replacement is getting narrower and narrower.
Rumours have been everywhere, but as of yet, there doesn’t appear to be any concrete attempt made to take him away from Ibrox.
Unless something spectacular and dramatic comes to pass in the immediate future, therefore, the Gers can probably rest relatively easily, but Gerrard, and the fans for that matter, will not dare believe that the South American is staying until that transfer window slams shut once and for all.