Antonio Colak Rangers transfer scouting: The Champions League nemesis with ice in his veins

The Croatian put Steven Gerrard’s side to the sword in four second half minutes back at Ibrox in August, with his goals eventually firing Malmo to the group stages of Europe’s premier competition last season.

Football, however, can often come the full 360, and reports have emerged from Greece this week that the Gers are keen to bring Colak to Ibrox this summer.

Here, the Rangers Review analyses the 28-year-old’s qualities who we understand IS on a list of Ibrox targets.

Colak has experienced a nomadic career since first turning out in senior football for German outfit Karlsruher SC, earning his big move to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in 2015.

However, the Croatian was farmed out on multiple domestic loans before he returned to his homeland in 2018 with Rijeka. Colak enjoyed a prolific campaign infront of goal as he caught the eye of Greek Super League side PAOK, prompting a €3 million transfer.

Consistency proved difficult to come by for the Croatian as he was sent out on loan to Malmo, ending last season as the Swedish club’s top goalscorer before returning to his parent club in Greece.

Colak struggled to nail down a starting berth in Greece in the second portion of last term, finding himself in-and-out of the side as PAOK finished as runners up behind Olympiacos.

Rangers will hope that the Croatian replicates his Malmo form providing they are able to satisfy PAOK’s monetary demands. Colak ended 2021 with an Allsvenskan winners’ medal, with no player in the Swedish top-flight providing a higher xG tally (including penalties) than the Croatian. Indeed, it was a surprise in some quarters that Malmo decided against exercising their option to buy on the 28-year-old’s loan deal.

Colak's most redeeming feature as a central striker is the conviction contained within his shooting. Rangers experienced this first-hand in the Champions League qualifying tie at Ibrox, with the 28-year-old's opening goal driven into Allan McGregor’s far corner.

The Croatian has trademarked the across-the-goal finish, frequently driving his shots into the far corner from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Notice in the example below how Colak keeps his head down as he prepares to strike the ball as opposed to eyeing up the goalkeeper. In doing so, he is able to increase the power on his effort.

Rarely does the Croatian look to finish high into the goal in the way Alfredo Morelos typically does. Instead, he looks to find the corners when granted time and space.

It was no surprise that Colak registered the highest number of shots per 90 minutes in the Allsvenskan in the 2021 campaign, with the Croatian tending to play on the shoulder of defenders in search of through passes.

READ MORE: Inside Allan McGregor's Rangers contract extension and why he remained at Ibrox

He is not a striker who typically drops short in search of the ball, preferring instead to run off defenders into the open space.

Colak’s movement is telling as Malmo pick up the ball in the sequence below. Instead of dropping into space for the ground pass, the Croatian looks to beat his marker in a foot race to exploit the space in-behind the opposition’s backline.

The pass drops into the forward’s path before he flicks it on to create a 3v3 situation in attack for Malmo.

Colak’s willingness to play on the shoulder of defenders is reflected in the fact that the Croatian was flagged offside 1.5 times per 90 minutes in the Swedish top-flight in 2021, which was the highest total among players in the division. When defences are at their most static, Colak is always on his toes to receive a pass.

For instance, as Malmo move the ball inside, the opposition look to squeeze their defensive line up the pitch.

However, Colak retains his position on the brink of the offside line.

It the allows the midfielder to slide a lovely pass through before the Croatian swivels and, again, arrows his effort into the bottom far corner.

His predatory instinct is similar to Morelos in that regard, although the Colombian is a more well-rounded forward. Colak averaged just 15.24 passes per 90 minutes operating as a lone forward for Malmo in 2021, which is considerably less than Morelos’ 31.45 passes per 90 minutes in the league last season.

Colak therefore is unlikely to be a plug-and-play forward during Morelos’ absence, and instead more of a low touch forward capable of breaking through tight defences.

READ MORE: Antonio Colak to Rangers transfer talks assessed - Video debate

Given his 6ft2 frame, the Croatian is very adept at converting crosses with his head. The shot map below from his Malmo campaign highlights his tendency to drift towards the right-hand side of the penalty box where he can direct traffic back across goal.

Colak’s header in the example below is reminiscent of Kemar Roofe’s against Hibernian at Ibrox last season. By drifting towards the far post at a cross, the Croatian can use the pace of the delivery to wrong foot the goalkeeper with his header.

Off the ball, Colak is a very active defender, ranking in the 80th percentile for defensive duel success percentage among forwards in the Greek Super League last term. In fact, the Croatian was praised by his manager for his work ethic. “Antonio gives 150 per cent to training and to games,” said PAOK boss Razvan Lucescu. “It makes no difference to him whether he starts or comes on as a sub, his work rate is the same. He is one of the most hard-working players I have ever been involved with.”

Following the departure of Cedric Itten, Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be keen to bolster his forward options given the temperamental fitness of Kemar Roofe throughout a 38-game league season.

Rangers’ incomings this summer appear contingent on player sales in the opposite direction, and with the Swiss having joined BSC Young Boys earlier this summer it stands to reason that there is a bag of change for the recruitment department to play around with.

Colak is a physical presence in the mould that van Bronckhorst requires from his strikers, with the Dutchman injecting more directness into Rangers’ play last season than previously under Gerrard.

The Croatian requires more guile when dropping short towards the ball, but he is the penalty box presence that the Gers require in domestic games where space is at a premium.

There may not be much resale value on Colak at 28-years-old, but his arrival would undoubtedly improve the base level of the squad.