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Alfredo Morelos, whose contract with Rangers expires at the end of this season, has been on the bench for the last three games
Rangers manager Michael Beale says he needs to “see a little more” of disgraced striker Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian striker has not started in the Ibrox side’s last three games, including Sunday’s Scottish Cup round of 16 win over Raith Rovers.
Morelos is one of eight senior Rangers players out of contract this summer, with recent speculation linking the 26-year-old with a move to Sevilla.
“He can walk and talk to other people,” Beale told Viaplay after the game.
“Regarding the outside reports, I haven’t spoken to him about it. Alfredo’s situation is a bit different. He’s been at the club for a long time. We haven’t offered him anything.
“We haven’t done anything with any of the players who are out of contract. We want to take a look and talk further.”
Beale ‘wants more energy’ from Morelos
Since joining from HJK Helsinki in 2017, Morelos has scored 122 goals in 261 appearances for the Ibrox side, becoming the club’s top scorer in European competition. But his form has faltered over the past 18 months.
Former Ibrox manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst dropped the Colombian from the traveling squad to PSV Eindhoven in August after raising concerns about the striker’s attitude and fitness.
His most recent start was in last month’s Viaplay Cup final defeat by Celtic. Morelos scored in the game and was one of Rangers’ better players at Hampden but Beale has favored Antonio Colak in his last three starts.
Beale has praised “the energy” of Colak, who has scored 17 of Morelos’ 10 this season. If Morelos is to reclaim his place, he must show his manager that he is capable of the same level of panache.
“Alfredo had the shirt, he was the only forward who was fit and he did very well,” added Beale. “If [Morelos] had to play, he was fine – but I want some more energy in the last third.
“Can he offer that? If he can do that, then he’s a better option than what he’s been for the past few months. Everything I say here was said to him.”
In addition to Morelos, goalkeeper Allan McGregor, central defender Filip Helander, winger Ryan Kent and midfielders Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack and Steven Davis are also out of contract at the end of the season.
Malik Tillman’s loan from FC Bayern Munich also expires in the summer.
Beale has previously spoken of his desire to make Tillman’s loan permanent. It also appears that the Rangers manager wants to keep both Kent and Jack beyond the end of the campaign.
“[Jack] is in a place where I’ve said publicly I want him to stay and the same with [Kent]. this is above me It’s a summer where we will make big decisions, but the right ones, without being reckless.”