Rangers: 'Huge opportunity' to keep 159-goal star at Ibrox

Rangers have a ‘huge opportunity’ to persuade star striker Alfredo Morelos to stay at the club if they can win the Europa League, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 25-year-old has entered the final 15 months of his current contract with the Gers and sparked intense speculation over his future after switching agents recently.

Since arriving at Rangers from HJK Helsinki back in July 2017, Morelos has established himself as one of the most dominant stars in the Scottish Premiership.

The Colombia international, who was previously described as “powerful”, has taken his club career goal tally up to an impressive 159 after bagging 113 strikes in 224 appearances for the Glasgow giants.

And Morelos finally secured some silverware to show for his efforts in the royal blue of Rangers, firing them to their first top-flight title in 10 years last term.

However, the South American will be unable to help Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s charges in their quest for an unlikely treble after he was ruled out for the season with a thigh injury.

Morelos sustained the problem while on international duty and has already undergone surgery on the problem, meaning he will play no part in Rangers’ run-in.

After seeing off Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade and Braga in the previous knockout round, Rangers are set to take on RB Leipzig in the semi-finals of the Europa League.

The winners of Europe’s second-tier competition earn automatic entry into next season’s Champions League, and O’Rourke believes that could be enough for Morelos to stay put.

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He told GiveMeSport: “If Rangers were to go on and win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League, it gives them a