STAY FOCUSED

Forget Lille for now, Gerrard tells Morelos

STEVEN GERRARD has told Alfredo Morelos to keep his focus on today’s Premiership opener against Aberdeen after stressing Rangers will only sell if their full asking price is met.

Lille are preparing a fresh approach for the Ibrox striker after an initial offer thought to be worth up to £15million was turned down.

Gerrard says Rangers will have a replacement lined up in the event of a future agreement, but added it was currently ‘nowhere near’ that point and that he was under no pressure from the board to cash in.

Reports in France claim Morelos has already agreed personal terms with Lille, whose president

Gerard Lopez has suggested the 24-year-old is keen on the move to Ligue 1. Gerrard, though, has been pleased by the Colombian’s application in training and confirmed he will be part of the squad for the lunchtime kick-off at Pittodrie. ‘The reality is that no club has met the valuation for any of our players as we stand,’ said the Ibrox boss. ‘In terms of the noise around Alfredo, we understand it because of his goal record — 77 goals in 137 games — is always going to create interest. ‘But the reality is that we all need to block out the noise and focus on Aberdeen. He is training well, seems focused and will be in the squad. It’s important that he stays focused to contributing on the pitch. ‘There has been noise around Alfredo since the first day I walked in the door. I must have read about 20 or 30 teams being linked. ‘I’m sure he’s used to it from an individual point of view. I’m certainly used to it.’ In terms of potentially replacing Morelos, Rangers have been linked with interest in Bordeaux’s Josh Maja, Kemar Roofe of Anderlecht and Livingston forward Lyndon Dykes. ‘It would be naive of us not to be ready,’ admitted Gerrard. ‘We are at a club where, over the course of the last two years, a lot of individuals have performed well. It’s natural that big teams with big money will look at that. But until our valuation is met, no one will be going out the door. ‘I can assure you that the board are not pushing anyone out the door or putting me under pressure to sell.’ With Jermain Defoe missing the Aberdeen game through a hamstring injury, Gerrard is keen to add more firepower regardless of what happens with Morelos. He said: ‘We’re close on one or two things. Hopefully, in the coming days or maybe the next week, we will have something to report on that.’ Rangers are also understood to be edging closer to a £3.5m deal for Amiens midfielder Bongani Zungu.