Jason Jones

Tue 7 April 2020 14:27, UK

RANGERS OPINION 

Try as we might, it’s hard to shift the suspicion that Alfredo Morelos may leave Rangers this summer.

We all know that the Colombian has been a man in demand for quite some time now, with Football Insider reporting back in January that he was a target for both Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur.

Since then, it has also been reported, by the same outlet, that the Gers have put any plans to renew his contract on ice, and that too could lead to his departure from Ibrox in the near future.

And if he does go, a replacement will obviously be needed to fill the sizeable void that he would not doubt leave.

Once again, Football Insider have reported on the matter, suggesting that Rangers are eyeing up a move for Bordeaux youngster Josh Maja.

It is understood that the 21-year-old is on a list of potential targets to replace the South American, but is he actually good enough to do so?

Statistically, the signs are good.

So far this season, Maja has averaged 0.62 goals per game to Morelos’ 0.73, as per Wyscout, but crucially, has reached that figure from an xG of just 0.31, compared to the Colombian’s 0.72, meaning that he is a much more efficient finisher than the Ibrox talisman.

Moreover, his shot accuracy rate is 6.7% higher than Morelos’, and his dribbles success rate is 9.1% higher.

A closer look at him in action is promising too.

Maja has six goals in six league starts for Bordeaux this season, as well as accruing 15 substitute appearances too, with three of his strikes coming in the same match – a 6-0 thrashing of Nimes back in December.

And that hat trick can tell us a lot about the sort of player Rangers would be signing, should they push ahead with a move.

In the first goal, pictured above, Maja’s movement is superb.

Peeling off the shoulder of the last man, he intelligently springs the offside trap to leave himself in acres of space before scampering through and cooly slotting a low shot past the advancing goalkeeper.

It’s a simple piece of movement, but it baffles the defender, so much so that Maja is left with an almost unbelievable amount of time to convert.

Maja’s third goal really illustrated the variety in his game too.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he puts his foot on it, holds off a defender, and then shows fantastic composure under pressure to arrow a shot right into the top corner despite hitting a stationary ball with no run up.

It really is a great strike that illustrates just how well-rounded his game is, and how much potential he has to conjure up moments of magic.

If you need any further proof, just lookout where his shot ends up – it could hardly be any further into the top corner.

Considering all of that, plus his impressive stats this season, there is plenty to suggest that Maja could actually prove to be a fantastic piece of business for the Gers, if they decide to pursue him.

In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Alex Bruce urges Gers to swoop for ‘gem’ after latest manager update.