Rangers-linked Norwegian striker Erik Botheim will sign a deal with Serie A Salernitana controversially putting an end to much speculation surrounding his future.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims the 22-year-old ex-Bodo/Glimt forward will undergo a medical this week with a view to signing a four-year deal in Italy.
This comes after Botheim had ripped up his contract with Russian club FC Krasnodar following the invasion of Ukraine earlier in the year.
The talented striker had only moved to the Russian Premier League in December last year for a reported fee of £4.3m [TMW].
But Erik Botheim would leave Russia without ever kicking a ball and there has been some controversy in the background of the move ever since.
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Erik Botheim lines up Salernitana move
Turkish giants Galatasaray were said to be leading the pack for the player’s signature at one point but reports in Turkey had claimed that FC Krasnodar were prepared to challenge any move.
The suggestion was that the Russian side would be raising a £17m legal challenge to any club who eventually made their move for Erik Botheim official.
Rangers were linked with a move for the striker in Scandinavia earlier the window, although it remains unclear if the Ibrox side ever made a serious offer for the player.
Botheim is also said to have had substantial wage demands of £40k per week and a whopping signing on fee of around £2m, effectively ruling the Gers out of the running.
Now, should the move become official, Erik Botheim will move to Salernitana in Italy instead and interestingly join up with ex-Rangers star Lassana Coulibaly.
The one-time Ibrox loanee has just extended is contracted with the Serie A side until 2026.
Whilst a move for Erik Botheim never seemed realistic, Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal for an international forward currently “itching” to move to Ibrox.