Rangers are close to the signing of 19-year-old striker Juan Alegria, and the Colombian could be the next Alfredo Morelos in Steven Gerrard's side at Ibrox.

What's the word?

According to Jordan Campbell, Rangers correspondent for The Athletic, Gerrard's side are closing in on the signing of Alegria, with the teenage forward set to join from Finnish side FC Honka.

Like Morelos, the teenager started his career in his native Colombia, with Deportivo Tolima, before earning a move to Finland in September 2020, where he has gone on to score three times in 24 appearances.

Considering that they have followed a very similar career path and are both young strikers from Colombia, comparisons with Morelos are always going to be likely for Alegria, although Campbell suggests that they are very different players, writing:

"Colombia has become a market that they are familiar with, not least due to the success of Morelos. While the nationality and position are the same, Alegria is said to be quite a different character to his compatriot.

"Whereas Morelos is a fiery player whose physicality is a major part of his game, Alegria is a more agile player who is said to be a calm and collected personality. And where Morelos has been known to enjoy himself during the offseason, Alegria is said by coaches to be very committed to a strict fitness and diet regime."

Rangers' next Morelos?

If Alegria can achieve even half of what Morelos has managed at Rangers, then he will surely prove to be a very successful addition in the future.

El Bufalo has contributed 96 goals and 43 assists in 186 appearances for the Light Blues and memorably broke Ally McCoist's goalscoring record in Europe, which will surely secure his place in Ibrox folklore.

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Therefore, Gerrard and Rangers fans will no doubt be excited by what Alegria can offer in the future; and should Morelos leave at any point, then it seems as if the Gers may already have a natural successor to the 25-year-old.

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