It is set to be a season-defining week and a half for Rangers, both on and off the park.
Back on Tuesday, the Light Blues’ Champions League dreams went up in flames very quickly, 3-0 down at home to Club Brugge inside 20 minutes at a mutinous Ibrox, with Danilo’s goal shortly after half time unable to spark a full-scale comeback.
Thus, baring a miracle at Jan Breydelstadion next Wednesday, Russell Martin’s team will have to settle for the consolation prize of a spot in the Europa League.
Just four days after their visit to West Flanders, the first Glasgow derby of the season takes place in Govan and, with Rangers already four points below fierce rivals Celtic, after just two matches, this Old Firm fixture feels must win already.
The transfer window will then slam shut the following day, and expect Rangers to be busy in the market between now and then, so could they land a “powerful” new centre-forward reminiscent of their best striker of the post-liquidation era?
Rangers searching for a new striker
Rangers do have three strikers on their books, namely Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, but none of the trio, thus far, have come close to making the impact that Alfredo Morelos managed during his time in Glasgow.
The Colombian international played an instrumental role in their recent success, winning the Premiership title in 2021 and reaching the Europa League Final the following season, so could they be set to sign a striker with similar characteristics?
Well, according to a report by AfricaFoot, Rangers are in talks to sign striker Karl Etta Eyong from Villarreal on a permanent deal to bolster their attack.
They add that ‘negotiations are continuing’ between the two clubs for a player whose estimated transfer value is around £5.6m, after the Gers had a loan offer turned down for the forward.
The Light Blues have already signed ten new players this summer, so could that tally soon rise to 11?
What Karl Etta Eyong would bring to Rangers
Etta Eyong has certainly enjoyed a rapid rise in recent months.
After joining Villarreal from Cádiz last summer, he starred for the Yellow Submarine’s B team, scoring 18 goals in 30 Primera Federación appearances, impressing all onlookers of Spain’s third-tier.
This earned him his senior debut towards the end of last season and, mere seconds into only his second appearance, he headed home a last-gasp winner against Girona at Montilivi, a key moment in securing Champions League qualification for Villarreal.
Now, following the sale of Thierno Barry to Everton, Etta Eyong started in La Liga for the very first time on the opening day last Friday night, again breaking the deadlock with a towering header during a 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Writer Kai Watson labels the 21-year-old a “powerful penalty box striker”, praising his “determination…. anticipation and aggression”, adding that Villarreal “are willing to let him go” for the right price.
Etta Eyong’s characteristics certainly sound similar to those of Morelos, but would he be able to replicate the Colombian’s success?
When Morelos arrived in Glasgow, he was also very much a lesser-known talent, joining from HJK Helsinki, having featured just 62 times for the Veikkausliiga side.
Known as el Buffalo, the Colombian would go on to score 124 goals in 269 appearances for Rangers, of which 29 were scored in UEFA competition, becoming the club’s all-time record scorer in Europe, breaking Ally McCoist’s long-standing record by netting against Benfica at Estádio da Luz in 2020.
In fact, when qualifiers are included, only three players have scored more goals in the history of the UEFA Cup/Europa League than Morelos’ tally of 32; Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (34), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (37) and Henrik Larsson (40).
So, given that Etta Eyong is unproven, signing him comes with an element of risk, but this could ultimately pay off spectacularly.
Often left frustrated by Dessers and Danilo, the Ibrox faithful are craving a talismanic centre-forward to get behind, and the 21-year-old Cameroonian appears to have the skillset to fulfill that role.
