Have Rangers found their new Alfredo Morelos

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Have Rangers found their new Alfredo Morelos
LILLESTROM, NORWAY - JULY 12: Erik Botheim of Norway during G19 Men Photocall at Thon Arena on July 12, 2018 in Lillestrom, Norway. (Photo by Trond Tandberg/Getty Images)

Many years ago, summer 2017 to be exact, Ibrox Noise ran this headline where we projected that new signing Alfredo Morelos was going to be our Moussa Dembele.

That didn’t turn out wide of the mark at all, and he’s been arguably the best striker in the SPL the past 3 or 4 seasons, with Edouard admitting pushing him a lot back in the day, but nobody coming close now.

However, as speculation continues over his future, Rangers find themselves strongly linked with another Scandinavian-based striker, as Norway’s Erik Botheim reportedly comes under the spotlight from a Rangers contract offer.

Morelos, of course, was plying his trade in the admittedly weak Finnish Veikkausliiga but was by a distance the best player in it, while Botheim has had most of his career in Norway’s Eliteserien with Rosenborg and Bodø/Glimt.

Morelos scored 46 and 13 in 62 outings in Finland aged 18-20, while Botheim managed 32 in 46 for Bodø/Glimt at a similar kind of age, early 20s.

So we do ask, have Rangers found their new Alfredo Morelos in Erik Botheim?

Of course, the man hasn’t signed yet, but his record is impressive – impressive enough for Krasnodar to sign him at 21 for £7M from a Norwegian club, which these days is a big number for that league.

Is he good enough?

By a distance yes, he is.

This is a kid with the tools to go to the top of the game, a hidden gem just like Morelos was, in an unglamorous league.

He’s on the cusp of the national team although with competition like Haaland, he might find chances limited.

But he’d be an excellent addition for Rangers, and at a cost of £0 he’d be one hell of a Bosman.

Hopefully this is one we can get over the line.

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