Rangers finally show dramatic new transfer strategy on deadline day…

Rangers are today playing some superb hardball over Alfredo Morelos.

Following an offer rejected by the player from China (now reportedly NOT from Hebei Fortune), which would have seen a £10M bid submitted had the Colombian been interested, Rangers chiefs dismissed one slightly higher at around £12M with addons from Championship side West Brom, who are seeking to beat the transfer deadline which closes at 5PM in England.

Stewart Robertson confirmed some months ago that Rangers would expect a similar amount for Morelos as Celtic received for Moussa Dembele, which was of course around £20M, and with Neil Lennon’s men today shipping off Kieran Tierney for £25M, there is no point Rangers selling themselves short with a player of Morelos’ potential stock.

Whether the player is interested or not is another matter – the 23-year old does seek English football, but evidently his preference is the Premier League, and while the Baggies will be a strong promotion contender this season, Morelos may prefer a straight gig into the top flight.

Either way though Rangers are finally starting to act tough on transfers, and after the Daniel Candeias ‘debacle’ of losing a player with decent market value for an underwhelming reported £250K, it seems Steven Gerrard’s statement some months ago for selling players for the ‘new’ prices and not the ‘old’ ones seems finally to be ringing true.

Rangers have a few hours to hold onto Morelos before the English window shuts, but of course it doesn’t apply to the rest of Europe.

We’ll see how it plays out.