Rangers and Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos has “not been the same player” to the previous levels he has reached for the club in the past.
That is according to journalist Derek Clark, who was speaking on Thursday morning’s Rangers Review briefing following the side’s 3-0 Champions League group stage defeat at Napoli.
There are currently question marks over Morelos’ future at Ibrox, with the 11-time Colombia striker’s contract at the club expiring next summer, meaning that he can leave the club in January for free if he agrees a deal with a foreign club.
The 26-year-old has struggled for form this season, with his red card against Hibernian in August perhaps being an example of his frustration at his poor form.
And Clark believes that Morelos could have “emotionally checked out” with his contract up at the end of the season.
“I know he’s getting a bit of a hard time at the moment, there’s no doubt about it,” Clark told Rangers Review (24:31).
“He’s not been the same player that we all know it can be.
“I’m not entirely sure what the root cause of that is, whether it’s just form, whether it’s a mental issue.
“Of course, you said he’s out of contract at the end of the season, whether he’s one of the players that’s emotionally checked out.
“Who knows, but I expect Colak to come in at the weekend.”
TIF Thoughts on Clarke’s comments…
We agree with Clark and believe that Morelos, who has scored 114 goals for the Glasgow giants in his time at Ibrox, has looked a shadow of his normal self this season.
The Cereté-born striker has scored just two goals and provided one assist in 14 appearances for van Bronckhorst’s side this season, showing that the Colombian has suffered a complete knock-off in form this campaign.
Therefore, we fully expect Rangers and Scottish Premiership top scorer Antonio Colak to come into the side for Saturday’s visit of Aberdeen in place of Morelos.