Rangers are looking ahead to a crucial few weeks in the transfer market to get a possible replacement for the departing Alfredo Morelos. After being crowned champions of the Scottish Premiership, the Rangers are facing a tough task ahead of the new season, finding a replacement for their star striker.
The Colombian has been linked with a move away from Ibrox. French club Lille are interested in the player but he is edging closer to a move to FC Porto. This has compelled Steven Gerrard to look for possible reinforcements in the transfer market. Here are some eye-catching prospects for Rangers to consider for the replacement of Morelos.
Ivan Toney
The in-demand Brentford striker has been on the wish list for several clubs, so it does not come as a surprise that both Rangers and their arch-rivals Celtic have been linked with the player. The striker burst onto the scene in the Championship last season, netting a total of 33 goals for Brentford which has made him a summer transfer target for many clubs.
However Rangers had been keeping a tab on him from his Peterborough days before he moved to Brentford last summer. With the club choosing to bring in the likes of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten, Ivan Toney is more like the one that got away and has gone from strength to strength last season.
This has led to clubs like Leeds, Watford, West Brom and Everton all keeping close tabs on the striker, this certainly makes the situation sticky for Rangers to bring him to Ibrox.
The 25-year-old has had a stellar 20/21 season for Brentford, helping them get promoted to the Premier League and his next step could be playing in the champions league with Rangers, where he could be joining hands with Steven Gerrard.
Everton are 'interested' in Brentford striker Ivan Toney, it has been claimed#EFC https://t.co/4d7MLxTSee pic.twitter.com/VF5KANCVnI
— Everton FC News (@LivEchoEFC) June 28, 2021
Brentford have slapped a £30m price tag on the English player, which looks too steep for a club like Rangers, but given the age and consistency of the striker, he is one to look out for, he will not doubt be able to repay that transfer fee with his fair share of goals in no time. Moreover if the club manage to secure anything upwards of £20m from selling Morelos to a Premier League club, chipping in another £8-10m could be sound investment for the Glasgow giants.
However, the prospect of playing in the Premier League is too much to giveaway, this might cause him to stay with the Bees for now at least.
Josh Maja
The 22-year-old Nigerian Striker can be a great replacement for the outgoing Morelos. The player is currently on loan at Fulham from Bordeaux. Josh Maja has had stints in the Premier League with Sunderland and scored 16 goals in 41 appearances for them. Following his loan move back to the Premier League last season, he managed to get 3 goals in 10 appearances for Fulham.
The striker is young and could prove to be a key first-team regular under manager Gerrard. He does come with a bag of experience despite his young age; Rangers will have to cough up a fee of somewhere around £5m – £7m for the deal to prosper but that should not be an issue if they manage to raise enough funds from a likely Morelos departure.
Jonson Clarke-Harris
Rangers have long set their eyes on Jonson as a potential target in previous transfer windows and their stance has not changed this summer as well, as they look for a replacement for Alfredo Morelos. Jonson has been in red-hot form last season at Peterborough United, netting a massive 31 goals in 45 appearances; this has made Rangers take notice of their target and move more aggressively this transfer window.
Jack Marriott:
56 games ?
33 goals ⚽️
Fans' Player of the Year ?
Players' Player of the Year?
PFA Team of the Year ?Jonson Clarke-Harris:
49 games ?
33 Goals ⚽️
Fans' Player of the Year ?
Players' Player of the Year ?
PFA Player of the Year ?
PFA Team of the Year ? pic.twitter.com/u1plknsg6l— Ryan (@RRMorleyy) June 24, 2021
Previously valued at €2 million, the striker’s asking price has probably soared upwards after his stellar performances last season and the club’s chief has stated that he won’t go for pennies which suggests Rangers will have to pay a sizeable fee to land the striker at Ibrox.
Last season Steven Gerrard won the Scottish Premiership unbeaten and has set the standards high for himself and the club. Celtic have already started making moves this summer to reinforce their squad after appointing Ange Postecoglou as their new manager.
Rangers are also set to lose their main man up front, Alfredo Morelos, who is moving closer to a move to FC Porto. Although Rangers have already signed Fashion Sakala who will join them from July 1, it feels as if they need more backing in the striker’s position.
The Rangers will certainly miss Morelos in the forward line, but now is not the time to look back, they need to make moves in the transfer market, and sign one of the above-mentioned strikers as his replacement. It’s now up to the club to make the deals and back the manager who has broken Celtic’s domination and delivered them the Scottish Premiership title after 10 years.
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