Stefan Bienkowski of the BBC has claimed that there is nothing to the ‘concrete offer’ for Alfredo Morelos from Bayer Leverkusen.
Using a very familiar news cycle a Colombian website reported the interest from Leverkusen and Stuttgart which was instantly picked up by the Daily Record and The Sun before making their way onto the BBC Scotland football page under the ‘gossip’ headline which rounds up stories from newspapers. It’s unlikely that Bienkowski’s claim of no interest will get anywhere near the BBC Scotland page.
The most basic check on how Morelos played in last month’s 1-0 defeat from Leverkusen would have killed off any notion that a Dembele dollars offer had been made for the striker that has scored in one SPFL match this year.
According to his Linked In profile Bienkowski is ‘Responsible for video content on the BBC Scotland sports website using AVID, Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects to edit and produce video packages, match highlights and interviews with players and managers for online and social media.’ His profile claims that he regularly wrote a column on German football for the New York Times.
With no offers made in January after scoring 28 goals it is highly unlikely that any concrete offers will be coming in for Morelos during this window.
Rather than pander to the behaviour swings of the former HJK Helsinki starlet Steven Gerrard has made alternative plans by signing Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe.
I’m told Bayer Leverkusen aren’t interested in Alfredo Morelos. The Bundesliga club are set to sign Patrik Schick. May want a second striker if Lucas Alario moves on but the club haven’t identified the Rangers player as a potential replacement. Nothing in the Colombian story.
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) September 6, 2020
I have news for you Stefan, Porto, Aston Villa, Leeds, Brighton, Leicester, Beijing, Lille, Everton, Newcastle, Dortmund, Athletico Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus , Accrington Stanley and Dukla Pumpherston Sawmills and Tannery aren’t interested either.
— timtim (@timtimbelgium) September 6, 2020
soccer aid world 11 have just bid 15m
— hjohnnyreece22 (@hhehasitall1) September 6, 2020
So u mean to tell us they don’t want a striker out of form, 2st overweight, huge discipline probs & liability ? also fact he’ll need 2 months of intense work to get up to speed! Don’t hang around if u change your mind Real Madrid really want him ?
— The truth (@Thetrut54051138) September 6, 2020
I don’t believe in conspiracy theories and I would never think that the Scottish PR guys planted the story with the Comombian press. Would never believe it cos they are not that intelligent.
— dutyfreejohn (@dutyfreejohn) September 6, 2020
We have press reporting press from other countries just to make a headline..then press reporting that press report is false.. it’s a lovely circle..ha
— gerry (@gerrybhoy007) September 6, 2020
The story came from Colombia.
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) September 6, 2020
Maybe the bid was from Blue Circle
— notthemsm (@therangersbus) September 6, 2020