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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

Alfredo Morelos guarantees Rangers a transfer bounty as Kris Commons talks up Ibrox figure behind transformation

Former Celtic star Kris Commons is convinced Alfredo Morelos will land Rangers a transfer bounty if the talismanic striker departs this summer.

And he has lavished praise on Ibrox coach Roy Makaay for helping get the Colombian back to his best over recent months.

Commons isn't ruling out a new Rangers contract, however, and reckons Morelos ' rousing return to form is down to his ability to stay in the box and wreak havoc.

Makaay enjoyed an incredible playing career with Deportivo La Coruna before joining Bayern Munich and is a vital member of manager Gio van Bronckhorst 's coaching staff.

And Commons is convinced the current Rangers coaching staff deserve kudos for Morelos' current run.

Speaking in his Daily Mail, he said: "When you look at the transformation in Morelos, some things are obvious. He is playing much higher up the pitch now as a genuine No 9, rather than the deeper role he played under Gerrard.

"He also looks much fitter and more focused than the player who had appeared so disillusioned and disinterested towards the end of the Gerrard reign.

"But some things are perhaps more difficult to see. I just wonder what effect Van Bronckhorst and, perhaps more tellingly, Roy Makaay have had behind the scenes.

"They say that football is a universal language. But clear communication is key. Van Bronckhorst and Makaay both speak fluent Spanish, something which is bound to be a big help to Morelos.

"Van Bronckhorst spent four years at Barcelona, whilst Makaay was a goalscoring machine at Deportivo La Coruna before getting his big move to Bayern Munich. Particularly in the case of Makaay, I think his influence on Morelos has been massive. Morelos is now under the guidance of a man who was among the very best strikers in the business.

"He is now playing as a proper penalty-box poacher, whilst retaining all of the link-up play he had developed in Gerrard's system.

"Makaay knows what it's like to score big goals in Europe. He still holds the record for the fastest-ever Champions League goal scored after just 10 seconds for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid.

"On his day, he was one of the most lethal strikers in Europe. If he is imparting some of that wisdom and experience on to Morelos, then Rangers can only benefit.

"Morelos was an animal against Red Star. After doing what he did to Dortmund and Hummels, it was so impressive to see him back it up with another big performance.

"Sustaining that form from now until the end of the season will obviously be key to Rangers' title chances."

Commons believes a sizeable fee could be had for a player who is a proven commodity in European football over the past five seasons.

And the 38-year-old reckons a long-term Ibrox stay is a live option if Rangers pip rivals Celtic to Premiership title glory and go straight into the Champions League group stage.

He added: "Even with just a year left on his contract, he could attract a big-money bid from abroad or down south in the summer.

"Not quite in the same region as what Celtic got for Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney. Both of those deals were well in excess of £20million.

"But maybe somewhere around the £10-15m bracket. With just 12 months left to go on his contract last summer, Odsonne Edouard was in the same position and Celtic sold him for £14m.

"That's the sort of money Rangers could be looking at if Morelos maintains this form, which is a hell of a lot more than they looked like they would get for him just a few months ago.

"He might even commit himself to a new deal if he feels like sticking around at Ibrox under Van Bronckhorst. Winning the title and getting into the Champions League will be key to that.

"But there's no doubt he has put himself firmly back into the shop window with some of his recent performances."

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