The Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and Fluminese saw Rangers-linked winger Jhon Arias reach the pinnacle of South American club football.
Compared to the Champions League finals that can regularly turn into tactical battles or have clubs who play each other all the time, the Latin version can throw up battles of a different nature.
Rangers need to upgrade on the wings and Jhon Arias would be an elite level option fresh from winning one of the biggest trophies in club football.
According to Fotmob he had an 84% pass success rate and created three chances with three out of seven successful dribbles.
If anything, his work out of possession was more impressive.
At Rangers, playing in Europe, Jhon Arias, who is similar to PSV Eindhoven’s John Bakayoko in style, would need a forward who is willing to do the hard work.
With three out of four tackles won, four clearances, two headed clearances and eight ball recoveries, Arias justified his manager’s decision to keep him on the pitch.
What was noticeable was the 26-year old’s running power even after and end-to-end encounter in which he had been doing shuttles for most of the game.
Despite his side going down to 10 men when John Kennedy got sent off for two yellow cards, Arias was still seen carrying the ball out of defence and getting up to join the attack.
Rangers need more quality in the final third, in particular, they need a goal scoring option on the right-hand side of the attack.
Arias, with 9 nine goals and 13 assists this season has proven that he can produce the goods.
The only problem is, as a Copa Libertadores winner under contract until 2026, he wouldn’t come cheap as £26m link to Liverpool backs up.
He will also have plenty of interest from other clubs.
Despite finding a good player, Rangers might have to accept that Jhon Arias is one that will get away.
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