West Ham United have been heavily linked with a move for wantaway Rangers star Alfredo Morelos.
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Football Insider recently claimed West Ham remain interested in the Rangers forward.
West Ham have been regularly linked with a move to sign Morelos from Rangers over the last couple of seasons.
Cash-strapped West Ham long linked with Morelos
The Sun reported during lockdown that West Ham boss David Moyes wants the Gers’s Colombian striker in this window.
Football Insider claimed West Ham could now get the Rangers’s 77-goal maverick for a cut-price £12million – due to the financial impact of the global health crisis – after ‘reigniting interest’.
But things went quiet after it emerged West Ham boss David Moyes has no money to spend.
The Hammers have been forced to raise money for transfers through player sales.
So far West Ham have raised around £10million through the sales of Albian Ajeti – to Rangers’s bitter rivals Celtic – and Jordan Hugill to Norwich.
Gerrard speaks out as wantaway striker’s options dwindle
Morelos had looked set for a move to Lille as a replacement for Victor Osimhen (Sky Sports).
But after selling Osimhen to Napoli, the French side signed Canadian forward Jonathan David from Genk instead.
Now Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has spoken out, revealing there have been no more bids for Morelos from other clubs (Sky Sports).
Gerrard left the reported West Ham target out of his squad for the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.
And he admitted it is because Morelos is distracted by his search for a move.
“It’s none of my business what Lille decide to do and how they go about their negotiations, strategies and plans with trying to buy players,” Gerrard said at the weekend (Sky Sports).
“I’m disappointed the player has had his head turned and doesn’t look himself. That’s the only thing I’m concerned about.
Could Hammers seal cut-price transfer or loan deal with option?
“But in terms of how Lille or anyone else go about their business in trying to get Alfredo’s services, it’s not in my control and I shouldn’t concern myself with it.”
Now West Ham have some money in the bank, it could be they have the money to strike a deal for Morelos.
A loan with an option to buy could also benefit all parties.
Rangers would get an unhappy player out of the building and off the wage bill.
And West Ham would get a partner for Sebastien Haller without having to fork out a transfer fee until next summer.