Rangers now braced for Alfredo Morelos exit as news confirmed – expert
Alan Hutton has suggested that Rangers have braced themselves for the potential exit of Alfredo Morelos with the additions of Antonio Colak and Tom Lawrence.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Gers defender claimed Giovanni van Bronckhorst now has options to stand in for the 26-year-old Colombian striker.
The club confirmed last Friday (8 July) that they had signed Lawrence, 28, from Derby on a long-term deal.
The Glasgow club also recently announced the signing of fellow forward Antonio Colak, 28, from PAOK.
The Croatian put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Ibrox club, with the option of a further year.
When asked if the new signings could open the door for Morelos to leave, Hutton told Football Insider: “Possibly.
“I think it gives the manager options, that’s probably what he was after, that was the biggest thing about it all.
“We saw last season how it affected them when Morelos wasn’t playing. So they need people through the door, they need to compete.
“I think you always have to have one eye on Morelos every transfer window. Every time he comes up we’re talking about him possibly leaving.
“He’s into the final year so I think, moving forward, van Bronckhorst needs people in the building just in case that happens.
“He doesn’t want to get left short with [Joe] Aribo going as well. So to bring in Tom Lawrence, with his experience, he’s versatile. And Colak, who’s a different type of striker to everybody else, he’s intelligent, he makes good runs, he’s got a big commanding presence, something that maybe Rangers were lacking in certain games.
“So I think it’s two good signings.”
In other news, sources have revealed Derby County lead Rangers in race to sign Northampton star Ali Koiki.