Alfredo Morelos could be set for a shock return to European football after Turkish side Samsunspor made a loan offer for him.

The former Rangers striker just signed a new deal at Santos last week, but that was because he had to renegotiate his original £40,000-a-week deal to around half of that after the Brazilian club got relegated last season to the country's second tier for the first time in their 111-year history.

Morelos made his first appearance of the season for Santos at the weekend appearing as a second-half substitute. But his time in Brazil has been a major disappointment and he's yet to score in an injury-ravaged spell since arriving in September.

Now he could leave and go to Samsunspor, who have made an offer for a loan deal with an option to buy.

The Turkish transfer window remains open until Friday night and it's unlikely cash-strapped Santos would be difficult to deal with after president Marcelo Teixeira complained about the initial contract Morelos was given by the previous regime at the club.

He said: "We could not terminate Alfredo Morelos' contract because it would have cost far too much money, therefore we renegotiated a new one.

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"He is an athlete who earned and still earns very high amounts. He was initially given a very exaggerated contract."

The 27-year-old was consistently linked with a move to Turkey during his time at Rangers and after he left at the end of last season, Fenerbahce's interest remained the strongest from clubs in that country.

Now he could finally win his move to Europe and join Samsunspor, who were promoted last season and currently sit two points clear of the drop zone in the Turkish Super League.