WAITING GAME

Lille consider return for Alfredo after £27m boost

LILLE are weighing up a revival of their bid for Alfredo Morelos as they prepare to receive another transfer windfall.

The Ibrox striker’s future is more uncertain than ever after Steven Gerrard admitted a lack of focus made it an easy decision to drop him completely from the squad named for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Lille had a £16million offer for

Morelos (right) rejected earlier this month, with club president Gerard Lopez claiming last week that they had ‘paused’ their interest.

That stance could now be reviewed as Lille get to set to conclude the £27m sale of Gabriel Magalhaes to Arsenal.

The Brazilian defender will undergo a medical in London before signing a five-year contract.

It is a second major sale for Lille this summer after

Napoli bought striker Victor Osimhen in a deal reputedly worth in excess of £60m. The French outfit spent £27m on Canadian forward Jonathan David as a replacement ahead of Morelos. However, after registering just one shot on target when opening the new Ligue 1 season with a 1-1 draw against Rennes on Saturday, Lille are pondering whether to invest again. There is understood to be further interest in Morelos from England and the continent, but it remains to be seen what moves will be made to try and end his three-year stay in Glasgow. Sources close to the player claim he felt he acted correctly by not submitting a transfer request when Lille’s interest was at its peak, but that there has been disappointment in a sale not yet being agreed. While a transfer now looks the most viable solution to the saga surrounding Morelos, Rangers are also braced for further — and less welcome — interest in Ryan Kent. Leeds United are planning to return with an improved offer after seeing an initial £10m bid rejected. It has been reported that the Premier League new boys will now up the ante to £14m and tempt Kent with the promise of a £50,000-per-week wage in the hope of pushing through a deal. Gerrard has made clear his strong desire to retain the 23-year-old — who scored his third goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Kilmarnock — but admits a decision could be out of his hands if Leeds reach the Ibrox club’s valuation.