Steven Gerrard: Rangers not putting pressure on to sell in window
Steven Gerrard insists he does not need to sell players to balance Rangers’ books.
Gerrard completed a double swoop earlier this week when he reinforced his striking options with the additions of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.
But that immediately sparked speculation Alfredo Morelos would leave the club, with Ligue 1 side Lille interested in the striker.
It was reported that Rangers had spent a combined £8.5m to sign Roofe from Anderlecht and Switzerland international Itten from St Gallen.
Gerrard, however, insists those figures are way above the sums Rangers have actually paid for their new strike force.
He also dismissed suggestions he is under pressure to offload Morelos to cover the cost of his summer spending spree, which has also seen Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey and Jon McLaughlin join, with Ianis Hagi’s loan move made permanent.
„The numbers for Kemar and Cedric that have been suggested in the media aren’t right. The figures suggested are inflated,“ said Gerrard.
„I’ve said before we’re still looking to add another player in the engine room but there’s nothing to report as of yet. We’re always looking to strengthen but the majority of our business is done.
„The important thing to know is that along with myself, the board wants this team to get stronger to give us the best possible chance to compete on all fronts.
„I’m under no immense pressure to move people out.
„But I am trying to shorten the squad and get people back playing football.
„I know we’re going to receive bids for some of our players but sitting here right now I haven’t received a bid that I’m happy with for any of our players so we move along with what we’ve got.“
Itten is likely to be involved against St Mirren on Sunday as Rangers return to Ibrox for their first competitive home fixture since March.
Roofe is short on fitness so may have to wait until next weekend’s trip to Livingston to make his bow.
But Gerrard is pleased to see his defensive options bolstered after Filip Helander impressed on his first appearance since suffering a problematic foot injury in December’s Betfred Cup final.
The Swede managed the full 90 minutes of Thursday night’s Europa League defeat by Bayer Leverkusen and will now compete with Balogun to partner Connor Goldson against the Buddies.
„We have some really strong options at centre-half now and we should have those all over the pitch,“ said Gerrard. „That’s what playing for Rangers should be about.
„Filip’s performance on Thursday night was no surprise but he still did ever so well having not played for so long.
„I thought he used his experience, put his body on the line with some really important blocks. He was partnered very well by Connor Goldson and the pair of them looked really good.
„With Filip back now and alongside Leon Balogun and George Edmundson, we’ve got four strong options at centre-back.“
St Mirren have strengthened at the back too this summer after signing former Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and defenders Joe Shaughnessy, Richard Tait and Marcus Fraser.
Gerrard added: „We know they’ll be organised, we know they will set us the challenge of trying to break them down and force the issue.
„But they are challenges we welcome. We started well last week at Aberdeen and now we want to build on that.“
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