Rangers fans will tell you that Alfredo Morelos is a terrific striker and that he’s destined to play in a top league.

Non Gers Scottish football fans will tell you that Morelos isn’t worth the risk because he’s a liability.

A wee gander at the Colombian’s stats will show you that both arguments have their merits.

The striker has scored forty-seven goals in eighty-seven appearances for the Glasgow giants in his two seasons at Ibrox.

In the Scottish Premiership last season, the attacker received four red cards in his thirty appearances.

It looks increasingly likely that Alfredo will leave Rangers this summer, as long as potential suitors look beyond his poor disciplinary record.

Newcastle United are the latest club credited with an interest in the player. The Scottish Sun have stated that reports from Colombia suggest that The Toon could make a £20m move this summer.

A lot will depend on the Premier League club’s owners. At the moment Sports Direct owner  controls the club and I’m unsure he’d wish to give such a big sum (or even half of that) to Rangers, given his courtroom battles with the Scottish side. But The Magpies are in the midst of takeover talks involving affluent Bin Zayed Group and they could offer up a hefty transfer kitty if they buy the English outfit.

Personally I think Morelos would tick a lot of Newcastle Utd’s boxes when it comes to recruitment.

At twenty-two years old, he’s still pretty young and will possess re-sale value if he does well at St James’ Park.

The young forward has been extremely prolific since touching down on European soil, first at HJK Helsinki and now at Rangers. His form at Rangers has seen him receive his first call-up to represent the Colombian national team, he’s now got three caps for his country.

While it’s true that Morelos didn’t score against Celtic, he did manage to find the net against every other top flight side in Scotland. He’s also score eight European goals in twenty-one continental appearances.

Current Rangers teammate Jermain Defoe knows a thing or two about scoring in the Premier League and he thinks Alfredo Morelos would score in England’s top league, given the chance (From The Scotsman):

“If you are asking me if he (Morelos) is good enough to play in the Premier League, of course. I believe that if he played in the Premier League, he would score goals. I don’t think anything would change. He is a natural goalscorer.”

Alfredo’s a forward that has grown into becoming a focal point for his team. He can lead the line and play as a lone striker, battling away with defenders and linking up with attacking midfielders. Plus he can also play as part of a striking team, running onto flick-ons or coming deep/go into the wings and create space for another hitman.

The fee of £20m is a bit on the high side and personally I think The Toon could negotiate that down. So instead of that you could bring him in for between £12m and £15m (all depending on the market and who else might be interested in his signature.

Newcastle’s need for a striker is well known, they’ll probably need at least two new recruits in that area.

Yoshinori Muto was poor in his debut season with the Magpies, Salomon Rondon’s loan deal is about to expire, it’s clear that Dwight Gayle doesn’t have a long-term future at the club and Joselu doesn’t offer you enough goals as a main striking threat.

Morelos has come on under Steven Gerrard and Rafa Benitez will believe that he has the tools needed to get even more out of the forward.

That’s why I think Newcastle United should be interested in the player, as he has a lot of raw potential.

Although that doesn’t mean that they should sign him.

They certainly would have to take into account his poor disciplinary record, although he didn’t have the same issues in Finland and I doubt he’d be as high profile a target in the Premier League.

Then there’s the last time Newcastle Utd spent big on a player from Ibrox. The memory of Jean Alain Boumsong struggling in a black and white jersey will still haunt some in Tyneside.

Personally, I think Alfredo Morelos would do better than many would think but I would certainly sign up another more experienced striker to help lead the line.

Posted on June 5th, 2019 by scott
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