Rangers have begun plans to replace their talismanic striker Alfredo Morelos with a report in The Daily Record claiming that we are looking in the same place that El Bufalo was “found”, Colombian youth international Juan Alegria attracting attention with his form in Finland.
The well known urban myth that Pedro Caixinha signed Morelos off the recommendation of Jonatan Johannsson is a well spun story, the reality being that the Colombian international’s agency was tasked with finding a striker with similar characteristics to Robert Lewandowski, and his profile fit the bill.
The revelation was made by Dougie Wright on the Heart and Hand Rangers podcast, Wright – a recruitment and data analyst at both Wigan Atheltic and Livingston – who had been working at Rangers when the deal was originally made.
But after the success of Morelos in Scotland, the Light Blues have obviously kept an eye on the Veikkausliiga, that he shares the same agent won’t have gone a miss either and with the story originating from his home land there could be some truth in it.
Speaking earlier this year, the 18-year old said of his ambitions for the future:
“I have a lot of ambition in football and I wanted to sign for a club in Europe that would allow me to play and give me exposure.
“I want to be able to build on the talent I’ve been given.
“My family has been with me from the start and without their support, I would be nothing. I have discipline and commitment and I am determined to make an impression in European football like other Colombians have done.”
He has four goals in 10 games this season, although he has played just 29 minutes in the league, Gers fans expecting a player as first-team ready as Morelos will be disappointed but he has certainly shown the attributes required to make the same progress as his countryman.
Rangers linked with Colombia U17 international Juan Alegría (18)
Alegría was at Tolima U20 before moving to Finland with FC Honka in Sep 2020
Typical pacey, direct, clinical 9.
Plays on the shoulder of the defender & finishes well.
5 goals for Colombia U20 vs Czech Republic: pic.twitter.com/Ud2B0TZcV6
— Simon Edwards (@SimonEdwardsSAF) December 8, 2020
Alegria has only been at FC Honka since September with his contract expiring next year, signing only a short-term deal when he moved to Finland, any potential transfer would not break the bank for Rangers.
Morelos will be a huge miss when he leaves such has been the way that we have taken him to our hearts, but as one door closes, another opens and Alegria could well be the man to fill that gap.