Ibrox View: Reported Florin Andone interest does not feel like a wise move for Rangers
RANGERS OPINION
Rangers are likely to be linked with a whole host of strikers between now and the summer.
The Gers could face a battle to keep hold of Alfredo Morelos in the coming months, with St. Etienne and Atletico Madrid amongst those linked with a potential swoop for the Colombian.
His departure, if it comes to pass, would leave a huge void in Steven Gerrard’s squad that would need filling as soon as possible.
One name that is already being linked with the Gers is that of Romanian striker Florin Andone, as per the print edition of Turkish outlet Fotomac, as pictured below.
The 27-year-old is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Premier League side Brighton, where he has scored just two goals in 13 outings this season.
The report even goes as far as to state there is a “significant chance” that he will line up for the Gers next season.
But is he somebody Rangers should be looking to bring in this summer, and could he be the man to replace Morelos if he goes?
Well, if we’re being completely honest, his stats in front of goal this season are a little underwhelming compared to the 23-year-old’s.
We all know that Morelos has been in a slump, but even taking into consideration the fact that he has scored just one goal since the midseason break, he still has a strike every 112 minutes.
By comparison, Andone has scored one every 232 minutes this term, including one strike for Brighton at the beginning of the campaign.
Those are not the numbers of a player you would trust to lead the line as you look to prevent your bitterest rivals from winning a 10th straight league title.
Moreover, previous comments on his parent club could be read as a poor reflection of his attitude.
Speaking to The Athletic back in September, he made it very clear that he had no desire to return to Brighton, and claimed that he felt he deserved more game time in England.
That kind of ambition is fine if you can back it up, but he’s only scored twice since for a club who are firmly in a title race.
Morelos may be a hothead on occasion, as proven by his five red cards last season, but at no point has he shown any dissent towards the club that pays his wages.
Of course, Andone could prove us all wrong, and if he does sign then we will get behind him from the moment he puts pen to paper, but right now, this doesn’t seem like a hugely worthwhile deal for the Gers to pursue.
In other Rangers news, ‘Tweet of the day’ – Many Rangers fans delighted by Bradley Wiggins photo in classic Gers shirt.