Daily Record

Morelos must decide if he’s staying put or going... Gers have a league to win and this is a distractio­n they don’t need

Alfie situation can’t keep dragging on

- BARRY FERGUSON

IT’S make your mind up time for Rangers and Alfredo Morelos.

The debate about the future of the Colombian striker must end now – for the sake of the club and player.

Rangers have a title to win and the focus of their players, management and staff must be on nothing but performanc­es on the pitch.

Let’s not forget Alfredo in all of this, either. The speculatio­n has gone on too long and he must also rediscover the form that has seen his value rise to the £20million mark.

To do so, he must have an honest discussion with himself. Does he want to stay or does he want to go?

This situation can not be allowed to continue until the close of the transfer window in October. This is a distractio­n that Rangers – and the player – no longer need.

The evidence of the damage that’s now being done was there for all to see as Rangers went down 1-0 to an excellent Bayer Leverkusen side in the BayArena on Thursday night.

Bayer were terrific and the strength of the Bundesliga is underlined by the fact they didn’t even finish in a Champions League spot in their own domestic competitio­n.

Take nothing away from Rangers either. Bayer may have been a challenge too far, but Steven Gerrard’s side performed admirably throughout the competitio­n.

However, the mind of Morelos looked as if it was everywhere but on the second leg tie. He was not the Alfredo Rangers fans have come to know and love.

At his best, before we even talk about his goals, he plays on the edge, backs into defenders, draws fouls in dangerous areas, holds the ball up and links the midfield and attack.

It looked as if the constant phone calls with agents and the will-you-or-won’t-you questions from fans, family and friends had finally taken their toll.

The signings of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten this week suggests the writing is on the wall for Alfredo.

It will be interestin­g to see if he starts or features against St Mirren tomorrow. It’s a decision, I suspect, Steven Gerrard will make after discussion­s and close monitoring of the player over the next 24 hours.

Hands up, I’d love to see him stay at Ibrox and I firmly believe Rangers will only sell if their valuation is met, even after forking out big money on Roofe and Itten.

But Alfredo must make the decision now because he and his team-mates deserve a fully focused player for a season that’s shaping up to be bigger than most in recent history.

Gerrard needs men who are bang on it and ready to go to war, not riddled with doubt and indecision about their own futures.

If push comes to shove, it looks to me as if Morelos will go and his departure would certainly be softened by the two players Gerrard has brought in to boost his squad. As a fan of Marcelo Bielsa, my attention has been naturally drawn to Leeds these last couple of years to

It looks like Morelos will go and arrival of two players will soften blow

study the shape and style of the Argentine’s team.

Roofe was a player who always jumped out for me.

He’s good on the ball but can get in behind defences. He has an eye for goal and was a big part in the Leeds team that almost secured promotion before he moved to Anderlecht.

Swiss Itten is a different type. He’s strong and pacy, with a decent scoring record for club and country. At 6ft 3ins it suggests the manager might be looking to change the style of his team from time to time.

Let’s not forget Jermain Defoe will also be fit again shortly and, like me, Rangers fans will be more at ease than ever before if Morelos departs the club.

But Gerrard has long spoken of his desire for strength in depth in all positions.

Top teams win nothing without competitio­n for places and the speed at which Rangers have acted to bring in their two new boys is a reminder they know exactly how significan­t the coming months will be.

I don’t believe the arrival of Itten and Roofe automatica­lly suggests that Rangers are ready to move Morelos on.

They’ve always been adamant the deal must be right but the speculatio­n can’t be allowed to go on and on. It seems, at times, Steven has done nothing over these last two years but field questions on Morelos, his future, temperamen­t and his discipline.

However, he knows the score. Scottish football is, in many ways, a developmen­t league.

I don’t believe the constant headlines surroundin­g Morelos will force the manager’s hand but he will be aware of the need for the focus of his team to be on football alone.

Alfredo, for his part, can’t be selfish about this. He’s got to be fair to everyone and then everything can settle and move on – whether that’s with the player still a motivated part of the squad, or delivering goals for another club elsewhere.

 ??  ?? MORE TO THINK ABOUT Alfie, has Itten above, now and Roofe, below, to contend with
MORE TO THINK ABOUT Alfie, has Itten above, now and Roofe, below, to contend with
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