Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that Rangers need not worry about losing star striker Alfredo Morelos this month, saying that there is “no chance” of him leaving in the current transfer window.
Football Insider reported this week that Tottenham have been working on a possible deal for the 23-year-old following the injury to Harry Kane that has ruled him out of action until April. However, with Rangers firmly in the Premiership title race and just a week remaining in the transfer window, Robinson thinks that the Colombian is going nowhere any time soon.
When asked by Football Insider about the possibility of Morelos going to Spurs, the 40-year-old said: “No chance of getting him in this window, not with Rangers as close as they are to mounting a challenge on Celtic.
“He’s a top player, he’s a goalscorer. He’s proven that he’s a got a bit of edge to him as well, which I like, but I think it would be an extremely difficult deal to get over the line in January. I think that the player himself would probably want to stay where he is.”
Robinson is right to allude to the very realistic prospects of Rangers winning silverware this season as potentially being a key factor in keeping Morelos at Ibrox. Steven Gerrard’s side remain two points off leaders Celtic in the Premiership and, with a game in hand, they are in control of their own destiny as they seek a first league title in nine years. The ‘Gers also have European football to enjoy next month after making the knockout rounds of the Europa League, the furthest they have progressed on the continent since 2011.
Robinson’s comments about Morelos being a “goalscorer” with “a bit of edge to him” are also backed up by the Colombian’s stats for the Light Blues. He has already hit 28 goals this season in just 35 games (0.8 per game) and scored 76 times in 126 appearances for the club (0.6 per game), so his potent qualities are indisputable. However, the “edge” to his game can sometimes manifest itself in undesirable ways, with the 23-year-old being sent off seven times since August 2018 and twice in 15 days last month.
Despite that concerning disciplinary record, Gerrard has backed the striker publicly when other managers may have thrown him under the bus. That support from the manager could help to persuade Morelos stay put at Ibrox and, as Robinson has mentioned, the likelihood of the club letting him leave so late in this transfer window seems remote given how little time they would have to sign a replacement. The ex-England goalkeeper would appear to have called it right in saying that there is “no chance” of the Colombian joining Tottenham between now and the end of the month.
Rangers fans, do you agree with Robinson’s verdict on the chances of Morelos leaving this month? Share your views in the comments section below!
