Michael Beale has challenged Alfredo Morelos to earn his future at Rangers - telling the striker he needs to see more from him.
The Ibrox boss watched his team sweep Raith Rovers aside to reach the last four of the Scottish Cup where they will face either Inverness, Celtic or the winner of Falkirk vs Ayr United at the national stadium. Once again though it was Antonio Colak who led the line in the 3-0 victory with the Croatian winning the battle with Morelos after returning to fitness.
The Colombian is out of contract in the summer and reports in Spain claim he has a pre-contract agreement with La Liga side Sevilla. And while Beale says he wants Ryan Kent and Ryan Jack to stay at the club beyond the summer, he stopped short of a show of confidence in Morelos - admitting he "wants to see more" from the striker before he'll be offered fresh terms.
Beale told Viaplay: "Alfredo had the shirt, he was the only striker fit and he did very well. Over the last 14 games he has seven goals and five assists, so that's the one thing he has done, he has performed.
"He's training really well in the background but I'd like him to up his energy. In terms of reports from the outside, I haven't spoken to him about it and he's free to go and speak to other people.
"We've not spoken to him or offered him anything. We haven't done anything with any of the out-of-contract players, we want to have a look and keep talking. Ryan Jack's in a place where I've said publicly I'd like him to stay and it's the same with Ryan Kent, so that's above me."
But when asked if he'd like Morelos to stay, the boss replied: "Alfredo's situation is slightly different. He's been at the club a long time and I need to see a little bit more from him day-in, day-out. When he's played, he's been fine, but I want some more energy in the final third.
"Can he provide that? If he can, he's be a better option than he has been in the last few months. I just think that's fair, everything I'm saying here, I've told him to his face as well."
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