After Bendan Rodgers rubbished reports linking Leicester to Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos in a pre-match press conference, it showed just how crazy all the transfer talk surrounding the striker is.
He tells a Colombian Radio Station his transfer will “most likely” be the summer and suddenly his bags are packed. Dortmund are the latest reportedly lining up a swoop for the Colombian (originally Sky Sports).
It’s clear Morelos’ future remains undecided but that’s no confirmation he’s leaving. We’d all absolutely love it if the Colombian stayed. Steven Gerrard will be desperate for that to happen too. But if he does go, it could cost potential suitors upwards of £20m. Would a proportion of that be enough to fund deals for any of these three interesting replacements?
Tammy Abraham
Ok, so we’re never going to outright buy the highly rated English forward. But we might be able to get Abraham, 21, on loan for a year and replace that quality we lose in Morelos in the short term.
Stopping short of starting Dom Solanke 2.0, it’s an interesting option. He’s got 21 goals in the Championship already this season for Aston Villa, he might not be ready for a breakthrough at parent club Chelsea and Rangers are going for silverware.
It’d be ambitious, but might tickle Rangers’, Chelsea’s and Tammy Abraham’s fancy. Towering, athletic and with a real eye for goal, it’d certainly soften the blow for fans.
Mirko Maric
If you’re asking “who?” then you’re probably not alone. But it’s as much to do with the team Maric plays for as it is to do with his ability. The NK Osijek striker, 23, is the Croatian First League’s joint top scorer so far this season with 10.
At 6ft2, he’s a focal point of the side who clearly knows were the goal is and like Morelos, likes to involve himself in the game. He’s also got two caps for the Croatian national side, so he must have something.
It’s also a tidy return in a league the club clearly rate. Rangers signed Nikola Katic from Croatian outfit Slaven Bepulo as well as Borna Barisic and Eros Grezda from NK Osijek. Could we see yet another player added to the Balkan contingent at the club?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCLn601NZ8
Sam Lammers
The young Dutch striker is having a superb season at Heerenveen and would pose a very interesting option. On-loan from PSV, Lammers, 21, is another who’s frame makes him a good focal point whilst he can still play a little too. He’s got 13 goals for the 9th placed side this season.
He’s due to return to PSV at the end of the season but they have an incredibly competitive forward line. Amongst this team talisman and focal point Luuk de Jong, who’s the league’s top scorer (20).
If Rangers can promise him more game time and the chance to shine at a big club, he may well be tempted. He wouldn’t be the first Dutchman either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VIYwRCWEwk