ONE MORE BIG EFFORT

Gerrard’s plea to wantaway striker Alfredo

ALFREDO MORELOS is ready to answer the Europa League call as Rangers bid to blitz Bayer Leverkusen.

Boss Steven Gerrard insists his Colombian frontman is fully focused in what could be his last appearance for the Ibrox club.

Spanish side Sevilla are the latest to check out Morelos, with Rangers moving into the market earlier this week to snap up strikers Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.

Lille have also been in talks with Rangers about 24-year-old Morelos, who could net the Light Blues a transfer fee of up to £20million.

But it is understood there has been no further contact between the clubs since discussions last week.

New boys Roofe and Itten are ineligible for the round of 16 second leg clash against the Germans, who are protecting a 3-1 lead from their visit to Glasgow in

March. However, Morelos is in line to feature despite the intense transfer hype – and Gerrard is ready to unleash him as his side bids to secure a three-goal victory that would see them progress to the last eight.

Gerrard said: “Alfredo is focused on the game. He is fit to play and wants to play. He’ll continue to be a Rangers player until things change and the only way that will change is if a bid is met that the board and myself are happy with. At the moment that hasn’t happened so we move ahead together, we stay professional and we keep trying to get this club positive results.

“The plan is to try and start on the front foot and get that first goal to make it an interesting tie.

“It’s a game we are looking forward to. We are disappointed with the result from the first leg but we are over here to give it everything we have got.”

Leverkusen boss Peter Bosz fully expects Morelos to play against his side. “Of course he’s a good striker, an experienced striker. Fast, intelligent. He’s a good player, absolutely,” he said.

Meanwhile, Switzerland legend Stephane Chapuisat insists Rangers have landed the complete striker in new boy Itten.

Chapuisat is a huge admirer after watching the emerging 23-year-old bag 20 goals for St Gallen to help them secure second place and their best Swiss Super League finish for 19 years.

Itten (left) has also scored on his only two international outings with the first the winner against Georgia to book Switzerland’s place at Euro 2020.

Chapuisat, sporting director at Young Boys, said: “Cedric is the complete striker. He can score with his head, both feet, is good in the box, can play with his back to goal and can play with a partner.

“I don’t know if Morelos will stay at Rangers but he could definitely play alongside him or alone depending on the system.”