After signing and paying off Kyle Lafferty, Steven Gerrard is looking at a £2m right-off over Eros Grezda.
The flying winger was proclaimed as the greatest player ever produced by Albania when he signed a lucrative four year Ibrox deal in August 2018, becoming Gerrard’s 14th signing of the transfer window. Strangely he was the third player signed from Croatia with Osijek celebrating a £2m windfall for a player on the treatment table.
Quotes were duly supplied from his international manager predicting a £20m move to Spain or Italy but after starting seven SPFL matches last season Grezda has dropped behind Jordan Jones, Sheyi Ojo, Brandon Barker, Greg Stewart and Jamie Murphy for a place on the wing at Ibrox.
On Thursday night the 24-year-old was picked to play against Balymena United in the Tunnocks Challenge Cup but ended up in the headlines for allegedly spitting at an opponent.
Graeme Murty and Greg Docherty tried to restore some dignity to the scene but after hearing the details Gerrard has claimed that it is all over for Grezda at the SPFL Premiership runners-up.
The Sun reports:
If you behave in that manner then you won’t represent this club at any level. We’re trying to be respectful. No one behaves like that and wears the Rangers shirt, so there will be a disciplinary situation. We will address it internally but I need to sit down and speak face to face and get the player’s version of events.
I’ve had some witness versions of it, so I’m aware of what’s gone on. We will deal with it, but it’s something I’m not happy with at all. There is no place for it on a football pitch, if he’s guilty of it.”
With three years left on the contract of the top star from Albania it looks like Grezda will prove as costly to get rid of as Carlos Pena and Dorrans.
During the summer there were reports of interest from French clubs in taking the Albanian ace on loan but those reports were as solid as ‘Morelos to China’.