Morelos must stay for title push – Durrant

Rangers cannot afford to sell Alfredo Morelos if they want to win silverware this season, according to former Ibrox midfielder Ian Durrant.

Manager Steven Gerrard last week predicted a bid would land for one of his players during the last seven days of the transfer window.

Reports in France later claimed Rangers were interested in Amiens forward Moussa Konate, fuelling speculation they were lining up a potential replacement for Morelos.

The Colombia international has scored nine goals already this season after hitting 30 last term.

Rangers have entered a huge week in their season on the park with their Europa League decider against Legia Warsaw followed by the visit of Celtic on Sunday.

But Durrant believes keeping hold of Morelos over the coming days is also crucial.

“It’s everything,” the former Rangers assistant manager said.

“For both sides of the Old Firm, and if you look at Aberdeen with (Scott) McKenna, it’s important that any team keeps their best players.

“Rangers are going for everything this year now. They are in a good place in Europe, second behind Celtic on goal difference, and Gary McAllister was saying they have a squad to compete on all fronts.

“If you are going to win things, if you are going to win leagues and cups and have a good run in Europe, you need to keep your best players. Morelos is a key factor in that.

“The manager was saying there might be a bid coming in for (James) Tavernier or Morelos so he will be wanting to fend that off and keep the strongest squad as he can.

“Hopefully it will be quiet and Rangers can keep him, because if they want to win things, they will need Alfredo Morelos this year.”

Despite taking his tally to 57 goals in just over two years with Rangers, Morelos has never found the net against Celtic in nine derby matches.

But Durrant said: “It will come. If he has the proper ammunition, I’m sure Morelos will score.”

Alfredo Morelos has scored 57 goals for Rangers.