Reports in Portugal have claimed the agent of Rangers star Alfredo Morelos is set to open talks with Porto over a move for the Ibrox talisman, with a fee of €12million quoted, but the Light Blues can’t consider selling to Colombian on the cheap or risk facing a major backlash from fans.
According to Mais Football, Morelos’ agent Michael Gorman was due in Portugal last night and also claimed Serie A side Cagliari were told the Gers’ asking price earlier this month after submitting an €8million offer.
While most Rangers fans are accepting of the fact that Morelos will leave Ibrox one day in the not-too-distant future, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one anywhere who thinks a fee of little over £10million is anywhere close to El Bufalo’s true value.
94 goals and 43 assists in 182 appearances for Rangers only tell half the story of Morelos’ importance to the Gers and the Colombia international is arguably the most popular import at Ibrox in a long time.
Fans absolutely love him and, while he’s had his negative moments, Morelos has repaid that faith countless times over on his way to becoming the club’s record European goalscorer.
While some clubs will try to use the impact of Covid on finances as an excuse for trying to cheap out on certain signings, it would be a foolish move by Rangers not to looking for, at least, the £18million that was on offer previously.
The club have previously said they were looking for the sort of fee that Celtic recouped when they sold Moussa Dembele to Lyon and those comments from Stewart Robertson casts a little doubt over the credibility of the Portuguese reports.
However, things have moved on since Robertson made those remarks so there could be some merit in them.
There’s also a chance that it’s came via an agent trying to tout his client and make himself a few quid in the process.
Rangers’ firepower makes Morelos exit seem inevitable
Having Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten, Jermain Defoe and the incoming Fashion Sakala at Ibrox next season means Rangers aren’t exactly short of firepower so selling Morelos and letting him further career wouldn’t be the end of the world.
But to do so at such a low price would be a massive mistake on Rangers’ part.
There have been plenty of clubs linked with a move for Buff in the four years he’s been at Ibrox and Porto have consistently been among them.
Moussa Marega’s departure has left them with a massive hope to fill in attack and manager Sergio Conceicao, a long-term admirer of Morelos, apparently sees the Rangers star as the solution.
If Morelos does end up joining the Dragons this summer, he’ll go with the best wishes of the Rangers support – but if the club don’t get in excess of £15million for the Colombian, they’ll have plenty of angry fans to answer to.
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