Concerned Andy Halliday is worried clubs could step up their pursuit of Alfredo Morelos as he urged Rangers chiefs to deal the striker in before the transfer window slams shut.
The 26-year-old has one year remaining on his current deal but boss Gio van Bronckhorst stated on Monday the club have held "very positive" talks over penning a fresh deal to remain with the Europa League finalists. Many had expected Morelos to leave the club this summer with the risk of a pre-contract agreement and free exit from January hanging over the player, with Joe Aribo leaving for Southampton having been in a similar situation with the Light Blues.
The Colombian is a major doubt for the opening day clash with Livingston on Saturday having been sidelined since April after picking up a thigh injury, and missed the Scottish Cup victory as well as the Seville showpiece, but talks having been ongoing behind the scenes over a long-term commitment to Ibrox. Van Bronckhorst stated that he hoped to that "in the next coming weeks we’ll sort it all out."
While Halliday is delighted to hear that Morelos could be committing his future to Rangers, he hopes to see his old Ibrox teammate pen an extension before the transfer window closes. The Hearts midfielder reckons clubs could make their move if negotiations rumble on.
He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: "(Cameron) Carter-Vickers and Jota were Celtic's two best bits of business in the window, and I think Rangers ' two best bits of business are still to come. That’s the future of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent. I think the only worrying line in it is the contract negotiations being finalised in the coming weeks.
"I just feel as if it’s so important to get him and Ryan Kent tied down before the transfer window shuts, because you don’t want them to get back fit, start firing on all cylinders and then clubs from elsewhere start talking to them with the pre-contract situation looming. He’s a massive player for Rangers over the last four or five seasons.
"Every year we are talking about if this is the window where Alfredo Morelos leaves. We’ve been close on a couple of occasions, but Rangers fans will be delighted if that’s concluded in a positive manner."
READ NEXT
