Alfredo Morelos IS facing Santos sack as Rangers hero branded 'remnant of the past'

Santos have confirmed Alfredo Morelos is facing the indignity of release from his contract - with the striker's situation branded "a very serious problem".

The Colombian joined the fallen Brazilian giants on a free after leaving Rangers but it has been a disaster. They were relegated shortly after his arrival and he renegotiated his contract and halved his wages. But his return of just two goals - with one a penalty - in the 19 games he's played for Santos led to severe criticism.

It was reported late last week that Santos had decided to wash their hands of Morelos due to concerns over his fitness and performance levels - problems similar to the ones he faced in the later days of his Ibrox tenure under Michael Beale in the Scottish Premiership. And now the club's president Marcelo Teixeira has all but confirmed that Morelos' days at Santos are over.

He said: "There is a very serious problem about Alfredo Morelos' contract. We are monitoring the situation. There are two players in the squad who won't be used in Serie B - Alfredo Morelos and Dodo. They are remnants of the past administration at this club. Their contracts are being discussed and now more than ever it becomes the board's commitment to try to resolve this situation.”

Morelos reduced his salary to around £19,000 a week and is on a £1,500 bonus for every goal scored. He left Rangers last summer after 178 league appearances, where he scored 78 league goals and 124 in all competitions during a six-year spell But he seems set to end his Brazilian adventure imminently.