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Scouting Aston Villa transfer target: Alfredo Morelos

By Josh Tonti

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 12: Alfredo Morelos of Rangers celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game with his team mates during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 12: Alfredo Morelos of Rangers celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game with his team mates during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /
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Prolific 21-year old Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos is attracting heavy interest in Europe. Aston Villa is one such club scouting the Rangers’ forward.

The Birmingham Mail said five Championship clubs sent scouts to Scotland over the weekend to watch star Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.

Morelos, 21, has six goals in six Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership matches. Accounting for all competitions, Morelos has eight in nine matches to begin his Rangers career. He made the move to Scotland from Finland over the summer for a reported £1 million fee.

The Colombia U-20 international had been lighting up the Finnish first division the prior two seasons. As is customary in Scandinavia, they play their seasons through the summer. Morelos had 46 goals in 62 total appearances for HJK Helsinki – pretty impressive for age 19 & 20 seasons.

Morelos has one of those trajectories that could take him to the Colombia National Team. Should he continue the lightning form showed thus far, a call-up is not out of the question. The goals he scored for Helsinki come from a variety of positions: left-footed curlers, headed set pieces, right-footed blasts.

The Mail has Villa, Barnsley, Bristol City, Derby County, and Reading as interested in Morelos. Through six league matches, Rangers sit in third place, five points adrift Celtic at the top. Rangers will be in no hurry to sell their star forward this winter, but summer interest from top divisions should test the club’s resolve.

Villa Verdict:

It is a little early to judge this young player, but Morelos already has so much data to go off from Finland and Scotland. They are not the toughest of leagues to score in, but he is exactly the type of young player Aston Villa should be scouting.

For Rangers, Ibrox could see their investment increase six-fold in just twelve months – £1 million to £6 million. Keep tabs on Morelos through the winter.

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