£10m offers for Morelos are rejected
EXCLUSIVE
RANGERS last night turned down two £10million bids from England for striker Alfredo Morelos.
Sportsmail understands one of the clubs in the running for the Colombian was Championship side West Bromwich Albion. There was more strong interest from another unnamed English league club yesterday but this was also repelled, with Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City strongly linked earlier in the window. The Colombian international has been the subject of intense speculation over his future this summer. Barring late,
unexpected developments today, the 23-year-old is now unlikely to make any immediate move to England. However, manager Steven Gerrard is eyeing the closure of transfer business down south before making the final moves to add to his Rangers squad. The English deadline falls at 5pm this evening, while Scottish clubs can continue to recruit players until September 2. And Gerrard has hinted he will be paying close attention to who might become available once Premier League clubs are no longer able to sell within their own environment. A loan move for Ryan Kent had looked dead in the water last week, but it’s possible Ibrox hopes could be rekindled if Liverpool don’t succeed in selling him to Leeds United or elsewhere prior to this evening’s deadline. Other loan or purchase options may also emerge once the English big guns have settled their player pools. Speaking before tonight’s Europa League third qualifying round first leg against FC Midtjylland, Gerrard was asked if his squad was where he wanted it to be. ‘Close to it,’ he replied. ‘I think we’re trying to shape the squad, to have it complete. I think we’re very close. ‘In the coming days, it could be big in terms of the window in England. We will see what happens over the next couple of days. ‘I think we’re really close in terms of where we want to be. But I’d still like to see improvement in certain areas. ‘I’m content where I’m sitting now and I’ve got confidence and belief with the squad we’ve got at the moment. ‘But I would like to put the finishing touches to it as well.’