Erik Botheim Rangers transfer scouting: Why £6.75m striker's penalty-box prowess would light up Ibrox

The 22-year-old is a free agent having left FC Krasnodar in Russia earlier this year. He only had moved from Bodo/Glimt for £6.75million in January

Having scored 23 goals and provided nine assists in 2021 for Bodo, a team with a strong recent history of player trading, and moved for a fee just months ago, the prospect of securing Botheim’s services without charge will alert many clubs. The Norwegian outfit’s high-profile 6-1 defeat of Jose Mourinho’s Roma last November was spearheaded by Botheim who scored twice and provided three assists on the night.

The Rangers Review has watched the Norwiegen centre-forward, in a bid to determine the suitability of a hypothetical transfer.

Contributions outside the penalty box 

Botheim’s heatmap from the 2021 Eliteserien league campaign demonstrates a proclivity for involvement outside the penalty area. He is comfortable dropping deep to link play given his technical quality and provides a constant forward passing option.

This is particularly important when a team is attempting to play through pressure. In a recent outing for Norway U21s, the forward recognises that his teammate requires a passing option when stepping out from defence, given the concentration of opposition bodies high up the pitch.

He drops into his own half…

 …And finds the free, third-man run infield.

This tendency was often displayed during his spell with Bodo, here being drawn to the ball and offering a target through pressure...

...The forward spots a third-man run again and lays off possession… 

…Allowing his team to break into a dangerous area of the pitch.

Botheim doesn’t possess Alfredo Morelos’ versatility of link-up options. Rangers’ Colombian forward is capable of switching play and changing the direction of an attack, while also providing these one-two ‘wall pass’ options.

READ MORE: Where does Rangers' Glen Kamara fit in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's masterplan?

In both examples below, Botheim’s tendency to play quick, punchy return passes proves prohibitive.

Here he fails to recognise an opportune moment to turn into space.

With no man on his back, Botheim’s body shape hasn’t adjusted to reflect the time he has on the ball, meaning he is unable to see the space on offer.

While in this example, an open body position would allow Botheim to see his left-back in space.

That said, Bodo are a well-oiled team who play in a definable system. Perhaps with greater tactical freedom, Botheim could mirror Morelos’ creativity outside the box.

In any case, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst still uses his forward heavily in possession, like Steven Gerrard, the Dutchman appears to have simplified Morelos’ role outside the box.

Coming alive near the box

Closer to the penalty area, Botheim’s link-up becomes more exciting. He uses his speed over the first few yards to drop into space quickly, when higher up the pitch, and play first-time passes. The young forward’s awareness of his teammate’s movement is impressive in such scenarios.

Here, he notices a teammate in space, dashes towards the ball and provides a cute lay off.

The same attributes are on show in this example.

Below, he concludes intelligent interplay with a dash behind the defence to score, highlighting his acceleration.

Notice in all the above scenarios, Botheim is operating in restricted space, reacting to his teammates movement and taking advantage of the small yards necessary to break through a low block. A tendency that would undoubtedly be appreciated at Ibrox in domestic football.

Creating separation

For all his qualities away from the goal, the final example of Botheim’s dialogue with the midfield offers an indication of the high-quality finishing ability he boasts.

If we look in detail at his shot map from Bodo’s 2021 league campaign, there are definable themes. Notice the number of shots inside the six-yard box, as well as the volume of headers and shots from close range.

30 of the forward's shots originated from crosses or set-pieces, while only fives derived directly from through balls or dribbles. Although he does have the required speed to attack space behind the defence, Botheim’s preferential method of chance creation is based on movement. 

Therefore, it’s worth highlighting his propensity to avoid the clutches of defenders, which enables him to connect cleanly with crosses.

Perhaps part of the reason his body can sometimes appear slightly closed when dropping into midfield is due to his penalty-box proficiency and desire to score. 

Below, the attacker is scanning the pitch and avoids dropping deep to ensure he is in an optimum scoring position.

As the play moves infield below his head is turned, seemingly to identify the unoccupied space at the back post behind his marker, where he will score from. Incidentally, this is an area that features a number of attempts on his shot map.

Botheim interprets space intelligently, in both examples below he identifies the area he will connect with a cross, but waits for an opportune moment to do so, attacking the ball when a cross has been played.

Here as Solbakken glides into a crossing position, Botheim remains outside the area, with his delayed movement creating a clear area for his teammate to target a cross.

Bodo’s No.20 accelerates at just the right moment, forcing his marker into a foot race and creating sufficient separation to attack the cross.

Here’s a final example of Botheim timing his penalty box movement perfectly when meeting a delivery.

While Solbakken bears down on goal, Botheim holds his run instead of arriving prematurely at the back post and rushing the delivery. 

Again, it’s not until his teammate is primed to release the ball that he attacks the space to score, timing his run to perfection.

Aerial ability

The free agent demonstrates similar qualities when attacking the ball aerially. Often hovering at the far side of the box…

…creating room to build momentum and attack a cross.

He likes to pick up spaces in between the centre-back and full-back, allowing him to move from the centre-back’s blindside.

An active defensive participant  

Finally, a review of his defensive activity map shows the forward is not only happy to drop deep and link play, but also help win the ball back in high areas.

He cuts passing lanes well and assists in the production of attacks, while possessing the physicality to compete with defenders in duels.

The perfect fit?

In a word, yes. Bodo have built a reputation these past few years for a reason and given they sold Botheim for a substantial fee just months ago, whichever club convinces the Norwegian to sign will have secured a bargain.

In specific relation to Rangers, Botheim’s technical ability outside the box, ability to bring others into play and movement in the penalty box would surely allow him to thrive at Ibrox. While it’s unlikely he’d replicate the creativity Morelos brings in build-up, van Bronckhorst’s direct methods of ball progression alleviates the No.9 from deep-lying creative responsibility. 

It is difficult to see Morelos, Botheim and Kemar Roofe in the same team next season, given all will expect minutes. And while a back three is feasible, van Bronckhorst’s preference to play with wingers renders a consistent front pairing unlikely.

Nonetheless, if Rangers can secure Botheim’s services for nothing, they ought to act fast.