STEVEN Gerrard has told Alfredo Morelos he must blank out all thoughts of his potential move to Lille and concentrate fully on Rangers’ opening Premiership fixture against Aberdeen today.

Gerrard emphasised that no bid which matches the Ibrox club’s valuation of the Colombian striker has been received yesterday morning as he looked ahead to the Pittodrie match.

But a report in France at the weekend claimed Morelos had agreed personal terms with the Ligue 1 outfit and the player has publicly since admitted he would be open to moving on to a better league.

The 24-year-old is currently the only fit forward that Rangers have – Jermain Defoe is sidelined with a hamstring injury - and Gerrard needs him to be at his very best for his team to triumph this afternoon.  

The former Liverpool and England midfielder, who revealed he is “close” to strengthening his squad with new signings, admitted he will drop anyone who fails to perform to the required level.

Asked if Morelos’s full focus had to be on Rangers, he said: “It has to be. Because if I see any player not focused on the challenges coming up, unfortunately they won’t be able to be part of it.

“He is training well, seems focused and will be in the squad tomorrow. It’s important that he stays focused, focuses on the team and contributing on the pitch.

“There has been noise around Alfredo since the first day I walked in the door. I must have read about 20 or 30 teams being linked with Alfredo in the media.

“In terms of the noise, I’m sure he’s used to it from an individual point of view. I’m certainly used to it. But my focus and his focus has to be Aberdeen.

“Alfredo will be in the squad. I’ll pick a team I feel is capable of getting the result we need. I’ve watched Alfredo very closely. He is training well and pushing to start the game but we will make that decision when we need to.”

Gerrard added: “In terms of our attacking options, we are actively looking to strengthen that area. We’re close on one or two things. Hopefully in the coming days or maybe the next week we will have something to report on that.

“But as we stand, all our focus and energy needs to be on this game, the 90 minutes and the challenge at Pittodrie.”

Asked if he had strikers lined up to replace Morelos if the South American is sold in the coming days, Gerrard said: “It would be naive of us not to be ready.

“We are at a club where over the course of the last two years a lot of individuals have performed well. It’s only natural that big teams with big money will look at that. We have to accept that, I have to accept that. But until our valuation is met, no one will be going out the door.

“For me, it’s always about being ready. Whether it’s a forward, a midfielder, if someone comes and meets the valuation and the board are happy then we can start the bidding. We will then look to bring someone in.”