Rangers transfer scouting: The potential Morelos replacements built for Champions League football

This represents an incredible juncture of potential and prosperity, a prime example of the early stages of punctuated equilibrium theory for those, political science inclined. Rangers have done the bulk of their transfer work, but there are no doubt voids yet to be filled, and with the influx of cash, a few of them may be filled.

The Rangers recruitment team no doubt has made contingency plans should they have been able to access the riches of the Champions League. Those plans becoming a reality will be an exciting watch in the coming week, but for the purpose of this article, I’ll discuss what the club should look to do and not do with the increased purse.

You want a goalkeeper...

This is the least realistic demand of them all. Although a new No.1 would be preferred to arrive in the coming week, Rangers kicked that problem down the hill to the summer of 2023 when the club extended the contracts of both Jon McLaughlin and Allan McGregor. A recently penned Rangers Review article featured a shortlist of players to target when we get to June 2023, however, should the club be in the market for a goalkeeper with the renewed riches then Brondby's Mads Hermansen is the obvious answer.

That extra-special midfielder is what you want...

This demand is probably the most popular, and for a good reason. We can all agree that Rangers are missing a particular profile in midfield which was further exacerbated when Joe Aribo, earned his move to Southampton. 

The requirements for any prospective midfielder are pretty simple; a pure No.8 who is also capable of playing as a No.10, one who can consistently contribute to goal creation and scoring, pick passes, slalom pass opposition defenders and be useful out of possession.

Despite the lofty requirements, the newly acquired cash should allow Rangers to shop in a premium market where finding a profile like the aforementioned is possible.

Evander has been linked. He’d be great. Darius Olaru has been linked; he would also be great, and I’ve written about him in the past. A few other names who could scratch the itch are Franco Cristaldo, Jose Cifuentes, Hany Mukhtar, Sebastian Kowalczyk and Aissa Laidouni. Some would be cheaper, some better, some with higher potential, but all share a somewhat similar profile and would immediately satisfy a void that could plague the Ibrox club if unaddressed in Europe and domestically.

You want a dynamite right winger...

Bringing in a right winger is not an admission that Rabbi Matondo is not up to scratch; far from it.

Matondo is a pure combo winger and an equally fascinating and young one at that. He can play on both sides and will do so and, in the process, will pick up plenty of minutes, experience, and improve even if Rangers were to add other quality on the right.

A mix of goalscoring prowess, genuine ability on the ball and when moving with it, and a creative spark is necessary on the right side. It would go a long way to finally having a symmetrical threat on the wings, reducing pressure on Ryan Kent to produce every minute of every game.

Either of Ludogorets' right-wingers would do the trick; both Bernard Tekpetey and Kiril Despodov tick the boxes, although the former is more polished and consistent, albeit with a price tag that respects that fact.

Zidane Zidane may be retired, but his namesake in Egypt, Zamalek’s Zizo, has been ripping the nation apart with his incredible wing play. Although he is already 26, he would provide an immediate injection of quality.

Silkeborg are Denmark’s surprise package and appear to be even a title-contender; plucking Sebastian Jorgensen from the Danish club would likely harpoon their aspirations but would see Rangers add an incredibly talented high-upside right-winger to the mix.

The final option, and from left-field, is Wong Sang-Um, who currently looks like Korea’s best domestic player. He is incredibly dynamic and a brilliant dribbler; just ask a few Spurs players he ripped apart in a recent friendly, and he carries a tangible attacking threat. A right-winger is more of a want than a need, but that being said, any of the above names should be welcomed to Ibrox with open arms.

You want a striker, with or without Alfredo Morelos...

The current situation with Morelos and, to a lesser extent, Kemar Roofe makes any aspirations of adding a striker interesting, to say the least. Should Morelos want out, which is unlikely given the qualification for the Champions League, the budget would be supercharged with the accompanying transfer fee.

Removing Roofe’s wages would offer a similar influx of disposable income to spend on a striker, though some want the addition of another striker even if neither leaves the building. If neither Roofe nor Morelos leaves, then Rangers must be thrifty and target a high-upside youngster to address the age imbalance with our strikers.

Two great options would be Molde’s Datro Fofana or Metz’s Georges Mikatutadze. If Rangers manage to shift on Roofe, they are in a different market, where players like Ryan Mmaee and Umut Bozok likely find themselves, both being fantastic all-round marksmen who could become targets and perhaps arrive for a fee around £4m.

If the club and Morelos cannot repair burnt bridges and the Colombian leaves, then an almighty pile of cash may be available to replace him. A personal choice would be Osijek’s Dion Drena Bejlo, who looks to be the next incumbent of Croatia’s No.9 shirt.

His mix of technique, pace, and intelligence whilst standing at close to 6' 5 make him an absolute menace to deal with.

Should Rangers opt for someone with a bit more experience then Vangelis Pavlidis, Christan Kouame or Terem Moffi would all be suitable propositions.

All three are valued at a fee closer to £6-10m. Each profile as goalscoring all-rounders, much like Morelos himself, and would guarantee a continuation of quality up front. However, Rangers could easily be priced out of each of them should their parent clubs play hardball.

Regardless of the specific individuals that come in and the positions addressed whilst doing so, the influx of Champions League cash will have an impact on the club's activities in the coming week, hopefully helping Rangers stay in Europe post-Christmas.