Ibrox hero rejects Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers return links.

Barry Ferguson has warned Rangers officials that the return of Alfredo Morelos is the last thing Philippe Clement needs at Ibrox.

The Colombian striker is reportedly free to leave Brazilian club Santos following their relegation from the top flight.

Morelos’ contract in Brazil includes a clause that allows him to leave after a disastrous season for Santos.

Supporters and pundits have speculated o n a return to Ibrox, where he left in the summer.

However, former Rangers captain Ferguson has stated that signing Morelos back would be the “wrong move.”

Ferguson writes in his Daily Record column, “But, as much as I might naturally like the idea, I also believe it would be the wrong move for my old club and new boss Philippe Clement, who is trying to drive Rangers forward in a different direction.”

“Clement is already having to work with players he inherited from previous managers.” Even if Morelos and Ryan Kent were huge contributors in Glasgow, he doesn’t need any more of them right now.

“The truth is, I watched the performance at Tynecastle on Wednesday night and I saw two players on that pitch who might be better options when it comes to filling the main striker’s role in Clement’s team. And only one of them was wearing a blue shirt.”

For Ferguson, the obvious striker recruitment option for Rangers is Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.

In fact, Ferguson believes Shankland is perfectly suited to step in and perform as a Rangers number nine.

He said: “This guy has improved his game to such an extent over the last couple of years that I’m surprised he’s not been snapped up already but, watching him on Wednesday, I saw a ready made Rangers centre forward.”

While Ferguson praised Shankland and compared him to Teddy Sheringham, he also suggested Abdallah Sima could be the answer as an Ibrox central striker.

In other news, Clement is ready to approve a loan move for a player he has released from the first team, according to reports.