Fee for Roofe is undisclosed, Itten moves in £2.7m deal from Switzerland
Thursday 6 August 2020 11:26, UK
Rangers have completed the signings of former Leeds striker Kemar Roofe from Anderlecht and Cedric Itten from St Gallen.
Roofe has signed a four-year deal at Ibrox following his departure from Vincent Kompany's side after just one season.Rangers have also confirmed the signing of Switzerland international striker Itten for £2.7m from St Gallen.
Itten, who has also signed a four-year contract, scored 19 goals in the Swiss Super League last season and was among Brentford's striker targets in the January transfer window.
St Gallen are on the verge of signing Hibernian's forward Florian Kamberi for £150,000 to replace Itten. Steven Gerrard adds the pair to his striking options with the future of Alfredo Morelos uncertain.
Ligue 1 side Lille are believed to be the front-runners for the Colombian's signature, but Gerrard insists players will only be allowed to leave the club if the move is right for all parties and they meet the club's valuations.
Sky Sports reporter Charles Paterson:
"Roofe was a standout for Leeds United for a few seasons in the Championship. He scored six goals last season for Anderlecht in Belgium but the 27-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Ibrox. That's a big statement of intent from Rangers at the start of the new Scottish Premiership season.
"Itten is four years younger but already a Swiss international. Rangers will see him as a prospect who could develop further, but he will also be expected to make an immediate impact as well. It is somewhat ironic that his replacement at St Gallen will be Florian Kamberi, who was on loan at Ibrox towards the end of last season; Rangers will feel they have upgraded significantly.
"For Steven Gerrard, these will be hugely welcome additions, as he's made no secret of his desire to bring in more bodies to help his squad challenge Celtic. With Jermain Defoe currently out injured, new strikers were his top priority.
"The situation surrounding Alfredo Morelos situation has rumbled on for so long, it's come to the point where Gerrard is getting sick of being asked about it; he cut short a question about Morelos' future at the weekend.
"Last week we learnt that Morelos had agreed personal terms with Lille, but the two clubs were some way apart on a fee - Rangers are looking for in excess of £15m. We've been told that Lille have returned with a fresh offer that includes increased incentives.
"Rangers sources are insisting no fresh offer is on the table, and that there are no negotiations currently ongoing, but the way in which Gerrard's rhetoric around Morelos has changed in recent weeks would seem to suggest he is now open to the prospect of the player leaving the club.
"As it stands the Colombian is due to fly to Germany tomorrow for the Europa League last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen - but given the speed with which Rangers concluded the deals for Roofe and Itten, it's perfectly feasible that Morelos' future might become clearer before that game is played on Thursday."
Rangers should only retain Alfredo Morelos for the new Scottish Premiership season if he is totally committed to the club, according to former Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher.
Sky Sports pundit Fletcher said: "I think when a player has potentially agreed terms with another club, you don't want to dim the value of your player.
"If Morelos is motivated and wants to be with Rangers then he'll be great for the season, but if he's not, and he is disinterested and he is carrying a bit of weight, then Rangers are better cashing in on him and bringing in two or three replacements with the money that they get."
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