RANGERS target Alfredo Morelos has been compared to Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane as the Ibrox club close in on a deal.

The 20-year-old Colombian is the subject of interest from Pedro Caixinha and the Ibrox board in what could be a £1million move for the striker currently banging in the goals for Finnish side HJK Helsinki.

During his time managing SJK in Finland, former Motherwell midfielder Simo Valakari saw the talents of the Under-20 internationalist up close and is in no doubt Rangers are set to land a bargain.

And speaking exclusively to SportTimes, Valakari likened Morelos to England hot shot Kane to give Gers fans a taste of what could be coming their way next season.

"He's the best player in the country by far," he said. "Without him HJK wouldn't be top of the league. He's scored most of the goals and brings a presence for the team. Other teams pay so much attention to Alfredo and that creates space for everyone else.

"Am I surprised he's still there? Potentially in the January transfer window but the club had a plan to give him a long pre-season to allow him to start strongly. Now he has more opportunities with more teams interested in him.

"I can still see Rangers are a huge club but they could sell him on definitely. He will bring goals for Rangers and a good player for them. They can build around him because he will score goals.

"Internationally he's similar to Harry Kane. He can shoot with both feet, is good in the air too, but he works hard for the team.

"He can link up and pass. He reminds me a lot of him."

The pedigree of Morelos speaks for itself. After first arriving in Finland back in April 2016 on loan from Independiente Medellin, the striker has grown to become the biggest star in the Veikkausliga.

Four goals in six Europa League matches have brought him to the attention of a wider audience, including Valakari's former international coaching mate Jonatan Johansson who gave up his post with Finland to join Caixinha's backroom staff earlier this year.

Despite playing against inferior opposition, Rangers have been urged to get the deal over the line to get a player Valakari believes is ready to take the Scottish game by storm as well.

He said: "I've played my teams many times against him. He came straight from the Colombian league straight from Finland which is not the best, and you could see straight away he was much above the level of everyone else. You could see he is an international striker.

"He's a finisher but overall his play is good. He can link-up play, he can assist, he can penetrate. He wants to score goals and he does it in different ways.

"He has pace to run behind the line, he can go one v one, he's good in the air. He's still young but you can see he is still a good level of player, but there is a huge potential to get even better.

"Alfredo is ready to step up to the Scottish level, yet there is still room for him to improve. He's a very good signing for Rangers if it happens."