Did Rangers sign the wrong Norwich City midfielder with James Maddison starring?

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Rangers spent the majority of the summer trying to lure Graham Dorrans from Norwich City – but he’s been replaced by the brilliant James Maddison.

Since Daniel Farke was appointed at Carrow Road ahead of the 2017/18 season, James Maddison has seemingly evolved into a completely new player.

The 20-year-old midfielder barely made an impact at Norwich City since arriving from Coventry City in 2015, playing just 32 minutes of league football while spending the first half of last season on loan at Aberdeen.

These days, however, Maddison is one of the first names on Norwich’s team-sheet. And arguably one of the most exciting midfield prospects in the entirety of England’s second tier.

It was his fantastic goal on the hour that secured a hard-fought 1-0 win for Norwich away at bitter Anglian rivals Ipswich Town on Saturday. In fact, the strike was Maddison summed up.

Not only was the matchwinner a goal of sheer technical class, bent into the far corner with a swish of his right boot, it was also a hugely important strike at a hugely important time. It’s not the only occasion in recent weeks that Maddison, who won the Championship Goal of the Month award for a stunning free-kick against Middlesbrough in September, has been the difference between one point and three.

Rangers, then, will be green with envy. The Coventry Telegraph reported that the Ibrox giants were hoping to bring the former Aberdeen loanee back to Scotland in the summer and had sent scout Jonatan Johansson to watch the playmaker back in April.

And the irony will not be lost on Rangers supporters that Graham Dorrans, the man Norwich sold to The Light Blues this summer for £1.3 million after a drawn out transfer saga (Sky Sports), has been replaced immediately by another Canaries talent The Gers wanted in the summer.

As it stands, few at Carrow Road will be mourning Dorrans’ departure. Maddison is ten years younger and, on this evidence, boasts arguably more potential than the Rangers midfielder in his youthful pomp.