A £3.75 MILLION bid from Bordeaux for Alfredo Morelos that Steven Gerrard described as “derisory” and “disrespectful” may well have been swiftly rejected by Rangers earlier this week.

But the high heid yins at Ibrox should brace themselves for a few improved offers for the diminutive striker in the closing days of the transfer window after this.

The Colombian netted a hat-trick, his first since arriving in this country last year, in the Betfred Cup match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition for his side.

Gerrard conceded on Friday there may well be further interest in the 22-year-old, the joint top scorer at the Glasgow club during the 2017/18 campaign, before the end of August.

The three goals that Morelos scored, which took his tally for this term to six, will certainly not have gone unnoticed by Bordeaux and any other potential suitors.

The manager estimated it will cost £12 million to replace his first-choice centre forward and it remains, even though it was suggested that Rangers rejected a cool £11 million from Chinese club Beijing Renhe back in February, to be seen if that level of bid is received.

There are, though, sure to be a few phone calls to his employers from across Europe and further afield now. It was another hugely-impressive individual display. Indeed, he should have had four. An early attempt crossed the line before being cleared by Stephen O'Donnell, but was not given.

Gerrard warned Morelos and his other players he wouldn’t accept fatigue as an excuse for a below par performance or defeat in Ayrshire before kick-off.

He made three changes to the starting line-up which had kicked off the Europa League qualifier against Maribor in Slovenia on Thursday evening to guard against that. Out went Allan McGregor, Daniel Candeias and Ryan Jack and in came Wes Foderingham, Borna Barisic and Ryan Kent.

Andy Halliday, who had done well out of position at left back against Maribor, retained his place, but he switched to the holding midfielder role in a 4-1-4-1 formation as Barisic took over from him in defence.

Foderingham, the first choice keeper in Govan for the past three seasons, appears to have little chance of reclaiming his place given how well McGregor has performed at since returning to Ibrox during the summer.

Still, he reminded his manager what he has to offer with an accomplished showing. He was equal to two wicked Chris Burke free-kicks from wide on the left during the first-half. His second save was exceptional. He saw the ball late and displayed lightning-quick reactions to tip it over the crossbar.

The visitors suffered a setback in the 17th minute when Jamie Murphy went down injured after trying to chase down a long ball upfield. The disconsolate winger was stretchered off amid applause from both sets of supporters with his head in his hands.

But Candeias came on and had a hand in a fine opening goal in the 28th minute. Connor Goldson, Scott Arfield, Halliday and James Tavernier were all involved in the build-up. The latter curled a cross in to the six-yard box and Morelos rose and glanced it past debutant Daniel Bachmann.

Tavernier was again the provider two minutes before half-time as Rangers built on their lead. But the credit for the second had to go entirely to the scorer. He held off Scott Boyd before drilling a shot beyond Bachmann and into the bottom left corner from an acute angle.

Credit must go to Kilmarnock, who won two and drew one of their meetings with their rivals last season, for battling back so tenaciously. They forced Barisic to turn the ball into his own net six minutes into the second-half and fought valiantly to the final whistle. If they had not come up against such an inspired keeper it could have been a different story.

However, Rangers were comfortably the better of the two teams throughout. Morelos forced two good saves from Bachmann in quick succession and the keeper also did well to palm an Arfield effort past his post. A third goal was inevitable.

It came with 15 minutes remaining and Tavernier, who provided a hat-trick of assists, was once again the supplier. The right back squared the ball across the goal and his team mate side-footed into the net from close range.

It was a fantastic and fiercely-contested encounter - three players from both sides were yellow carded during the course of the 90 minutes by referee Nick Walsh - and made for entertaining viewing for everyone in the 12,016-strong crowd as well as those watching on BT Sport at home.

The 3-1 triumph extended Gerrard's unbeaten run as Rangers manager to nine games and will have given his charges confidence ahead of the first leg of their Europa League play-off against Russia opponents Ufa at Ibrox on Thursday evening.