Rangers have managed to sign Filip Helander from Bologna for a reported fee of £3.5million and the defender is tipped to be the next big thing in the Scottish Premiership.
And according to former Rangers man Robert Prytz, Filip Helander has is a carbon copy of former Celtic man Virgil Van Dijk.
Prytz said: “I’m really pleased Helander has joined Rangers. I think it’s a move that will benefit all parties.
“He’d fallen out of the Bologna team in the second half of last season but he’s a good ball-playing central defender.
“This will be a good move for him — and hopefully for Rangers and Sweden as well.
“I’ve seen him playing a few times but even though he comes from the same city as me I didn’t see him in Sweden because he moved to Italian football when he was quite young.
“He went to Verona then after a season there he went to Bologna. That should tell you a bit about him.
“He wouldn’t get one Italian team if he didn’t have some quality — never mind two.
“He got moves there as he’s very much a modern-day footballer who likes to build play from the back. He doesn’t just whack it 60 yards up the field.
“He’s more like Virgil van Dijk in the way he wants to pass the ball — but he’s strong and tall enough to dominate if his team is defending.
“He was regularly involved with the Swedish national team and was picked for the 2018 World Cup squad. And he’s kept his place in the national team even though he wasn’t playing regularly.
“But that will be another reason he’ll have wanted the move to Scotland — because if he’s playing regularly for Rangers he’ll stay involved with the national team.
“I’m sure he’ll go to Scotland and settle quickly as Scottish football might suit better than the game in Italy.”
Van Dijk who currently plays for Liverpool is now the best centre-back in the world. And Prytz has a feeling that Filip Helander can emulate that.
While the Rangers fans will not be happy with the comparison but deep down inside they will be very happy if Filip Helander can emulate the Dutchman.
