This week Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson insured fans that no major outgoing business would be done during the January transfer window. This news should be warmly welcomed by Rangers fans who are seeing their team flying at the moment. However, a comment by Wilson explaining that the club are always prepared for ‘what-if’ scenarios does allow doubt to fester (The Scotsman).
The article, by The Scotsman, indicated that one of the most important contingency plans being considered at the moment surrounds Alfredo Morelos. With some of the biggest clubs in England currently fighting for the player’s signature, it is impossible for Rangers management to ignore the possibility of him leaving.
But this news of a contingency plan doesn’t infer that Morelos is set to leave in January. In the article, Wilson admits that the conversation surrounding Morelos’ departure is being continuously had with scouts (The Scotsman). This indicates that Rangers are preparing to replace Morelos in the long term instead of the short term.
This shows that Rangers are becoming increasingly proactive when it comes to player recruitment. Their decision to bring Morelos on for a mere £1.08 million is another example of the club’s intelligent recruitment (transfermarkt.co.uk). When rumours surfaced that Crystal Palace we’re looking at the player, the fee being thrown around was £20 million (The Scottish Sun). Morelos has since gone on to score a bag full of goals, suggesting that his value will have only increased since then (WhoScored.com).
When Rangers do eventually decide it is the right time to sell the Colombian, they will almost definitely make a large profit on him. But from Wilson’s comments, when the time comes, Rangers will have already the next generation of talent ready to fill Morelos’ shoes. Whether that time is next summer or in years to come, it is only good news for Rangers fans that the club’s management are already making preparations.