Sources: Alfredo Morelos contract twist as Rangers U-turn revealed
Rangers did in fact open talks with goal scorer Alfredo Morelos over a new deal despite manager Michael Beale claiming no contract was offered, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gers manager gave a scathing assessment of Morelos’ impact during his post match press conference after Rangers’ 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at the weekend.
The Columbian will leave the club at the end of the season on a free when his contract expires.
It is believed that Morelos has multiple offers on the table and he will make up his mind on where his new club will be in the next few weeks.
Rangers made the 26-year-old a contract extension offer before Christmas, but talks never progressed from that point.
The Columbia international is believed to have mulled over the offer and hoped for further discussions.
But the player’s stance is he ended up being left in the dark about his future by the Ibrox hierarchy, prompting him to look elsewhere.
Former manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst stated shortly before his dismissal that talks were on hold due to the fitness levels of the striker.
Those talks never progressed during Michael Beale’s rein despite Rangers being keen to hold onto Morelos before the Englishman was appointed.
The number 20 has still featured under Beale, who has omitted Antonio Colak for the majority of his games in charge.
Morelos was signed for £1 million in 2017 and has gone on to score 76 goals in 165 league appearances for Rangers.
He is also the clubs’ all-time top European goal scorer, bagging 33 goals and 18 assists in all European competitions for the club.
In other news, Rangers exodus intensifies as fifth senior exit looms