Rangers could sign “monster” free agent

Will Rangers’ busy transfer window continue?

To date, new manager Russell Martin has made seven signings, four of whom debuted during Tuesday night’s Champions League qualifier.

Nevertheless, plenty more new arrivals are forecast, with the Glasgow giants tipped to sign a centre-forward, currently available as a free agent, who has plenty of Premier League experience.

Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers career

In the post-liquidation era, no Rangers striker has come close to Alfredo Morelos’ impact at Ibrox.

The Colombian international made 269 appearances for the Gers, scoring 124 goals and registering 57 assists.

Of these goals, 33 came in UEFA competition, thereby becoming the club’s all-time record goalscorer in Europe, surpassing Ally McCoist, while only Henrik Larsson, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have scored more goals in the history of the Europa League (including qualifiers).

Then-manager Steven Gerrard stated back in 2019 that he’ll “never get bored” of praising Morelos as he “keeps providing game-changing moments”, while Jordan Campbell of the Athletic outlined his importance to the club’s success in recent years.

Meantime, Nick McPheat of BBC Sport noted how Morelos’ ‘standout performances’, particularly in the Europa League, will forever be remembered fondly, having been ‘integral’ to their continental adventures and Premiership title triumph of 2020/21.

So now, could Rangers be about to sign their best centre-forward since the enigmatic Colombian?

The latest on Rangers’ strikers

On Tuesday night, the Martin era at Rangers officially began, as his new-look side beat Panathinaikos 2-0 in a Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.

Spectacular second-half strikes from teenager Findlay Curtis, making only his second-ever start for the club, and then debutant Djeidi Gassama mean the Gers will take a decent advantage to Athens next Wednesday, albeit the job is far from complete.

Danilo led the line from the start in mid-week, before Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, who’ve both been strongly linked with a move away this summer, were introduced for the final 15 minutes, suggesting they could be on the move, leaving the club in the market for a new centre-forward.

Well, speaking on Football Insider’s podcast, former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness believes that Rangers should attempt to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, stating that the England international could “reinvent himself and be a superhero” at Ibrox.

The 28-year-old is a free agent after leaving Everton, having made 273 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 71 goals, whom he joined nigh on a decade ago.

Calvert-Lewin is purportedly on the radar of numerous clubs; Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic claim that Manchester United have ‘been offered the chance to sign’ him, while Newcastle have also been touted as potential suitors.

However, could he do a reverse Duncan Ferguson by swapping Everton for Rangers?

Well, despite his well-documented injury record, Calvert-Lewin is a proven goalscorer at Premier League level, as the table below documents.

As the table outlines, since his peak in 2019/20 and 2020/21, Calvert-Lewin’s importance at Everton did diminish, but his ability has never come into question.

Speaking on Sky Sports, prior to the Blues’ clash with Manchester City in May 2023, Patrick Vieira praised the striker’s hold-up play, describing him as a “complete” centre-forward, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout simply labelled him a “pure poacher” and a “monster”.

Meantime, Patrick Boyland of the Athletic documents that, without his ‘critical goals’, Everton probably would have been relegated in recent seasons, noting that he thrives ‘on a specific type of service’ which allows him to ‘bully defenders’, forecasting that he is certainly capable of ‘rediscovering the magic of old’.

With Rangers now firm favourites to dump out Panathinaikos, thereby setting up a third qualifying round meeting with, probably, Servette, perhaps the prospect of Champions League football could entice Calvert-Lewin north of Hadrian’s Wall.

Should he do so, this would surely represent a serious game-changer for Martin, as he seeks to dethrone Celtic at the summit of Scottish football.

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