Lille weigh up one final transfer bid for Morelos
LILLE are considering a final offer for Alfredo Morelos as they seek to bring a conclusion to their long-running pursuit of the Rangers striker one way or another.
Sportsmail understands the Ibrox club have yet to receive a new bid from the Ligue 1 outfit, despite reports in Colombia claiming a package worth in excess of £18million was on the table. Sources in France suggest Lille are still weighing up whether to make a take-it-or-leave-it approach before potentially switching attention to other targets ahead of the window closing on October 5. Lille president Gerard Lopez said last month that the club had hit the ‘pause’ button on their efforts to land Morelos after a £16m bid was turned down. Canadian striker Jonathan David was signed instead in a £27m deal from Gent but has
yet to score in his opening four appearances. Continuing interest from England and Italy in attacking midfielder Jonathan Ikone could also prompt Lille to return to the market. Morelos scored his fifth goal of the season for Rangers in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Hibernian at Easter Road. Steven Gerrard has praised the 24-year-old’s attitude in recent weeks after previously admitting his ‘head had been turned’ by persistent transfer speculation. Fiorentina and West Bromwich Albion have also been linked with interest in recent weeks. Gerrard’s immediate priority is to add another midfielder to his squad, with
Preston’s Daniel Johnson still in the frame. The Jamaican is out of contract at the end of the season and thought to be interested in the possibility of moving to Glasgow. Johnson was left out of Preston’s 2-2 draw with Norwich City in the English Championship at the weekend, but manager Alex Neil explained that was due to a knock that is expected to sideline him again for a midweek Carabao Cup tie against Brighton. ‘Daniel Johnson wasn’t available, he picked up a slight groin injury and he would’ve probably started,’ said Neil. ‘I doubt he will be fit for Wednesday because having to turn that groin strain in two or three days, you are cutting it fine.’