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Could Glasgow Rangers be set to secure their first signing under Michael Beale in the coming days? Well, the 42-year-old has “spoken to two or three players “regarding potential transfers this month…

What’s the word?

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Dundee United tie, Beale admitted: “the two or three I’ve spoken to are very keen to come and sooner rather than later” which led many of the Ibrox faithful to wonder who they are, but following the 2-0 victory, the manager gave away a few hints.

Although not confirming names, Beale did praise Everton midfielder Tom Davies alongside Norwich City player Todd Cantwell, saying: “Todd was an excellent player when he was young and playing against my Liverpool U23s.

“And Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool U23s team all around the place. There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him. But again, two really good players.”

Could this be a potential hint that these are two of the players the club are speaking to? The next few days could prove to be very interesting.

John Lundstram 2.0

Lundstram has been one of the Ibrox side’s finest performers this season, evidenced by his Sofascore rating of 7.14/10 which ranks him sixth in the Rangers across the Premiership this term.

His combative nature and tenacity have been key under Beale, with the player starring against Celtic and Dundee United recently, overall this season, he has made on average, 1.4 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, and scored five goals, suggesting his abilities have been on display at both ends of the pitch.

With Beale claiming there is a bit of Lundstram about Davies, it is certainly a fine comparison to have and the Everton midfielder could be an excellent addition to the first-team squad.

With Steven Davies, Scott Arfield, and Ryan Jack all out of contract in the summer, plus loan signings Malik Tillman and James Sands set to return to their parent clubs as it stands, there will be a major void in the centre of the pitch for the Ibrox side.

The £25k-per-week midfielder broke through during the 2016/2017 campaign, making 24 Premier League appearances while scoring twice, including a goal in a famous 4-0 rout of Manchester City with performances like that seeing him dubbed “top-class” by the BBC’s Phil McNulty.

This season, Davies has hardly lived up to that billing, starting just four matches as the Toffees are struggling yet again in the league under Frank Lampard. Despite his lack of game time, the 24-year-old has still chipped in with an average of 1.0 tackles and 0.7 clearances per match while winning 54% of his duels.

A move could reignite his career and joining Rangers may be the ideal place to gain more minutes while having the chance to win trophies and play European football.

Having one Lundstram is great, but signing someone who is similar to him could only be beneficial for Beale as he aims to take the Light Blues into a new era.

There is plenty of cautious optimism emanating from the Manchester United faithful right now, with the appointment of Erik ten Hag at the helm earlier this year a big step in the direction of stability and greener pastures over the horizon. 

However, reports stemming from last month state that the Glazer family are open to discussion regarding the sale of Man United.

There has been friction between the club and the fanbase in this regard for some time, with the situation teetering on untenable, illustrated by protests against the prestigious outfit’s ownership and wayward direction.

Consequently, according to the Daily Mail, the limbo status that the Manchester giants are currently enduring is preventing lucrative transfer deals from being struck, throwing a prospective move for Joao Felix, who has been at the centre of heavy attention regarding his future at Atletico Madrid, into doubt.

A wise loan swoop for Fimino 2.0

The loan market will now be an avenue the club must consider, luring Felix to Old Trafford for the remainder of the campaign and reassessing the prospect of a permanent transfer this summer. 

The Red Devils’ precarious situation has already been evidenced by the recent Liverpool signing of Cody Gakpo for an initial £35m – United were clear favourites to sign the World Cup star as rumours regarding his future heated up over the past few weeks, only for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp to swoop in at the eleventh hour and bring him to Anfield. 

And now, concerns that a replication of the misfortune might arise with Felix will be at the forefront of Ten Hag and United director of football John Murtough’s conversations, with heavy interest from a host of top European outfits. 

A recent report from talkSPORT detailed Atletico’s £8m demands for a loan move for Felix, a figure that United and other interested suitors have been deterred by.

Signing for his Spanish outfit from SL Benfica for £113m in 2019, Felix has found polarity between Atletico’s defensive structure and his own breezy skill set, with tensions increasing speculation over a swift departure.

Having scored just 33 goals and 18 assists from 129 appearances for his current side, it is clear that his talents might be best suited under a more offence-minded manager, such as Ten Hag.

Despite the hurdles in the track, United simply must sign a player that bears similarity and can have a similar impact to Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.

31-year-old Firmino signed for the Merseyside outfit from Hoffenheim for £29m in 2015, at the maiden period of Klopp’s reign, and brought guile and trickery that played a pivotal role in transcending the squad from mediocrity to mastery, with the club winning a wealth of major honours over this period.

With his creative aura from the talismanic role – largely as a false nine, Felix could emulate the Brazilian and knit the United attack together, injecting a new level of cohesion and allowing the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony to Flourish from the offensive flanks.

The 23-year-old phenom is blossoming into his own, and his exploits on the international stage with Portugal are evidence enough that he can weave his “magic”, a term used by former coach Renato Paiva to describe the ace, into the likes of the Red Devils. 

As such, Murtough must look to sign Felix, even if it’s on loan this winter, as Ten Hag could land his very own Firmino, thus easing the sting of losing Gakpo to their Merseyside arch-rivals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in a deal to bring Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to talkSPORT, who revealed in a recent post on Twitter that Julen Lopetegui’s side are now tracking the Manchester United right-back ahead of launching a potential move for the 25-year-old the winter market, with United said to be open to the sale of the former England U21 international as long as they can source a replacement.

Regarding Wolves’ interest in the defender, talkSPORT said: “BREAKING: Wolves want to sign Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka in January. MUFC are open to offers for Wan-Bissaka providing they can source a replacement – talkSPORT sources understand.”

“Unreal”

While it is true that Wan-Bissaka’s £50m 2019 move to Old Trafford has not particularly worked out as the right-back would have hoped – currently being the club’s second choice in his position, having played just four minutes in all competitions this season – considering how impressive the defender was at Crystal Palace, it is easy to see why Lopetegui would be interested.

Indeed, over his 35 Premier League fixtures in his final campaign with Palace back in 2018/19, the £17.5m-rated talent was a rock at the back, helping his side keep 12 clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 3.7 tackles – the third-most in the league – 2.4 interceptions – the seventh-most in the division – 3.7 clearances and winning 7.1 duels – at a success rate of 77% – per game.

The £90k-per-week full-back also impressed in a creative capacity that season, providing three assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.4 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles – at a success rate of 66% – per match.

These returns saw the player who Dan Gibbs dubbed “unreal” and Patrick van Aanholt claimed is “better than Trent [Alexander-Arnold]” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as Palace’s second-best performer in the top-flight of English football that year.

As such, should Lopetegui believe that he can be the manager to help Wan-Bissaka – who Squawka labelled “phenomenal” and a “tackling machine” – refind this level of form, it is undeniable that the 25-year-old would be an unreal signing for the Spaniard to get over the line this winter – especially for a fee in the region of £20m.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping to strengthen his Arsenal side during the January transfer window ahead of a crucial second half of the campaign.

What’s the word?

The North London side are set to win the race for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk according to recent reports and journalist Paul Brown believes Arsenal are “very keen” on adding the Ukrainian winger to their squad in the transfer window while speaking to GIVEMESPORT:

“They are very keen on this player. They’ve been looking at him for a long time. He’s been scouted extensively, and they’ve watched him again for several games this season. So he’s definitely one that they want. There’s definitely interest there.”

This suggests Arteta has done his homework on the player, and although it could cost the club around €100m (£86m) to secure his services, it could be money well spent.

Imagine him & Saka

The 21-year-old has arguably been one of the brightest young talents on the continent this season, registering a breathtaking 18 goal contributions (ten goals and eight assists) in just 18 matches across all competitions this term.

Compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, Mudryk ranks in the top 4% for non-penalty goals (0.48 per 90), assists (0.32), dribbles completed (1.93), and touches in the opposition penalty area (3.21), proving that he has been one of the finest performers in front of goal during the previous year.

Journalist Josh Bunting dubbed the Ukrainian as “frightening” and it’s easy to see why considering his recent performances, with a move to the Premier League clearly the next logical step for his development.

With Arsenal setting the pace in the title race, Arteta will want to hammer home his advantage and avoid any slip-ups. Adding someone with the quality of Mudryk to the team would signal a massive statement of intent and could give the whole team a boost.

The youngster could also form an exciting wing partnership with Bukayo Saka, especially considering how well the Englishman has been performing as of late.

He has scored five goals and notched six assists this season, using his pace and creativity not only to create chances for himself, but to set his teammates up, and with a similar playing style to Mudryk, the duo could cause absolute havoc for opposition defences.

This might be slightly harsh on Gabriel Martinelli, who has also caught the eye this term on the left wing, scoring five goals and grabbing two assists, form that even even led to World Cup selection for Brazil.

The club are in an excellent position right now. If the 40-year-old manages to lure the youngster to the Emirates in the coming weeks, it could be the catalyst they need to win their first league title in 19 years while forming a tremendous partnership with the lively Saka in the process.

It could just be the perfect recipe, especially with Gabriel Jesus now facing time on the sidelines too.

Leeds United could reportedly make an offer for West Ham defender Harrison Ashby in the New Year.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Ashby

Ashby, who shares the same agent as Brenden Aaronson, was a late target for the Whites in the summer transfer window. Reports suggested that the Hammers blocked a move from Leeds for the youngster, with Newcastle also thought to be keen.

The 20-year-old, who is primarily a right-back who can also line out at centre-back, has made seven senior appearances under David Moyes, but it looks as if he could be on the move soon.

The Latest: Ashby transfer update

Claret & Hugh relayed an update from The West Ham Way regarding Ashby on Thursday.

They claimed that the defender looks nailed-on for a January exit and that Leeds could look to table a bid over the coming months.

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The Verdict: Perkins 2.0?

Leeds managed to sign exciting forward Sonny Perkins from West Ham in the summer, with the youngster making his senior Whites debut in midweek.

The 18-year-old has scored seven Premier League 2 goals in nine appearances this season, with the two clubs still yet to agree on a compensation fee.

Ashby, who has been hailed as ‘fearless’ by West Ham podcaster Sam Delaney, could therefore follow in Perkins’ footsteps with a move to Yorkshire. If he does, it may prove to be another academy coup by Victor Orta, Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises.

Leeds United were heralded for their offensive play when clinching promotion to the Premier League under the sagely Marcelo Bielsa's management in 20/21 following a 16-year absence from the top-flight.

United had scored 62 goals on their return to the Premier League, finishing ninth and lauded for the high-octane, arresting edge to their play – for reference, Chelsea scored 58 goals all season, and Arsenal clinched 55.

This year has been a far cry from the former offensive verve that threaded through Elland Road, the Whites' footballing identity woven in attractive style and fluidity throughout the fold, with The Athletic citing an over-reliance on Jack Harrison and lack of potency in the striking department as the crux of the club's seasonal woes.

Manager Jesse Marsch was dismissed from his position in January, and Javi Gracia now grasps the reins in West Yorkshire, steering the outfit away from immediate danger amid the congested relegation battle – Leeds are 14th after 27 matches but only two points away from the bottom three.

Should Leeds preserve top-flight status once again, the onus will be on rekindling the fire and climbing the table over the coming years, and as such must turn to prodigious starlet Archie Gray to orchestrate a resurgence with his dynamic offensive capabilities.

Who is Archie Gray?

Still only 17-years-old, Gray has found a place on the bench in the Premier League on three occasions this season, including twice in the past three match-weeks, and it seems that the precocious youth is on the cusp of a senior debut for Gracia's side.

As the Leeds boss himself revealed – as per The Athletic's Phil Hay – Gray is a midfielder "he'll think about using while Adams is out", with the USMNT skipper having recently picked up a hamstring injury.

Gracia hailed the teenager as the club's "future", with Gray having made 21 appearances for the U21 outfit, scoring a goal and providing four assists.

It is indeed his creative flair that could pay dividends, and if he can develop his skills over the next few years he could be a deadly force to enhance the efforts of all around him.

The "unreal talent" could even emulate iconic star Santi Cazorla's success under Gracia's wing, with the 38-year-old Spaniard forging 21 displays under his compatriot at Qatari side, Al-Sadd, supplying a remarkable rate of 11 assists and six goals.

While Cazorla is firmly in the twilight phase of his career, Gracia will have tasted his superlative ball-playing skill firsthand, and with his efforts firmly in Gracia's mind, he must implement such knowledge onto Gray, whom team-mate Dan James said "the ability he’s got is something that he can take to be one of the best players in the Premier League if not the world."

With two assists from five starts in the Premier League 2 this term, the natural creativity is embedded into Gray's footballing DNA, and if he can harness his ability, there is no reason why he cannot forge a career to rival that of Cazorla, such is the potential within.

Tottenham Hotspur agreeing a deal with Google for the stadium’s naming rights would be ‘positive news’ for the Premier League giants, according to reliable journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Spurs enter talks with Google

Last month, the Lilywhites announced that they had created an official partnership with Coca-Cola, with top-flight rivals Liverpool also jumping on the bandwagon on the exact same day.

The Athletic have now also revealed that the club are in talks with Google over naming rights for the 62,850-capacity ground, three-and-a-half years after moving into their new home back in 2019.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke insists that Tottenham would be taking a huge step in the right direction by completing this deal:

“It would just increase Spurs’ commercial viability as well if they can get a big name like Google to become the naming rights.

“It obviously bring lots of extra revenue into the club as well, which Spurs fans I’m sure will be hoping can go towards the transfer kitty for Antonio Conte.

“So yeah, it can only be positive news for Tottenham.”

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The Verdict: Massive coup

Tottenham landing this deal with Google would be a massive coup for Daniel Levy and Co, who have had to be patient in attaching a partner to the ground given the financial impact of the pandemic.

Not only does the stadium play host to some world-class Premier League and Champions League football fixtures, but also to some of the biggest NFL, boxing and rugby matches.

These negotiations sound hugely exciting, and it sounds as though it won’t be long before Spurs are announcing yet another major off-field deal.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have struggled this season, winning just one of their opening seven Premier League matches and scoring just three times in the process.

They currently occupy 17th spot in the league table and some solid performances will be required to boost the morale at the club.

What’s the word?

Bruno Lage led the club to a top-half finish last season, although it was only Wolves’ rock-solid defence that prevented them from slipping into trouble. They conceded just 43 goals all term, and if it wasn’t for the Old Gold scoring only 38 times, they may well have finished higher.

The Portuguese manager appears to be under some pressure so far this campaign however and might there be a change in leadership if the club continues to put in these poor performances?

Journalist Dean Jones thinks so. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones explained that Wolves might be keeping tabs on another Portuguese manager, saying:

“It would not surprise me if they had their eye on Ruben Amorim at Sporting.”

He could revive Wolves

It might be far too early to discuss Lage’s future right now, especially on the back of a decent campaign last year, but Amorim would be an excellent appointment if things started going from bad to worse.

Daily Telegraph correspondent Matt Law dubbed Amorim as a “highly-rated” coach and with his success at the Portuguese side in the embryonic stages of his managerial career, this praise is fully justified.

Amorim was appointed as Sporting boss in March 2020 following a highly impressive spell at Braga, winning the Portuguese League Cup.

In 115 matches for Sporting, he has won a staggering 82 matches, losing just 17, while his side have scored a total of 223 goals during his tenure, proving he is evidently an attacking-minded coach.

He led the club to their first League title in 19 years in 2020/2021 and made further progress in Europe, delivering Champions League knockout football for the first time since 2009.

There is no doubt the 37-year-old is destined for the very top and with Wolves’ last two managers hailing from Portugal, Amorim would certainly be a good fit at Molineux given their contingent of Lusitanic players.

The next few weeks before the Premier League halts for the 2022 World Cup will be absolutely crucial for Lage and his team. If he starts winning matches and dragging his side from the relegation zone, this pressure will alleviate.

Although if the Old Gold continue their goalscoring woes, the Molineux faithful might be cheering on a new manager quicker than they thought. Indeed, Amorim clearly possesses the tools to revive Wolves if the time comes.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Moise Kean in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Jeunes Footeux, the Magpies are eyeing up the young centre-forward alongside Premier League side Leeds United.

Juventus have an obligation to sign him from Everton for €28m (£24m) and the Magpies are willing to pay €20m (£17m) to sign him.

It’s thought the Old Lady could be willing to part ways with him before the conclusion of the transfer window.

Better than Hugo Ekitike

The Magpies are clearly in the market for a number nine after missing out on a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike from Stade Reims, as PSG snapped him up earlier this summer.

Eddie Howe could now bring in a better player than Ekitike in the immediate future by securing a swoop for the Italian marksman.

He could suit the way the former Bournemouth manager wants his team to press as a unit as Get French Football News once stated that he is “willing to do the defensive work, counter-pressing & tracking back in equal measure”, whilst the interest in him suggests that they believe he will fit into what they want to do on the ball.

Journalist Mina Rzouki once dubbed him “electric” and previously said that he is “lovingly clinical”, which highlights the kind of energy he can provide at the top end of the pitch.

He could get fans off their seats with his quick running and ability to find the back of the net, having scored 82 goals in 224 games in his club career to date. The 22-year-old has also scored four goals in 12 caps for Italy, which shows that he can perform at international level too.

Kean could offer more of a goal threat than Ekitike at this point in his career. The current Juventus loanee scored 13 goals in 26 Ligue 1 matches whilst on loan at PSG from Everton in the past, whilst Ekitike has found the back of the net ten times in 28 French top-flight matches to date.

The Italian could also find the transition to playing for Newcastle easier than the Frenchman would have done as he has already played 39 times for the Toffees in England, which means that he will not need a period of time to adapt to English football.

Therefore, Kean could be better than Ekitike for the Magpies this season not only due to his goal record, but because of his suitability to the team, and his familiarity with English football.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Goncalo Ramos, and now a new update has confirmed the club’s continued pursuit of the player this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Bamba Dieng as well as the Benfica forward.

As per the report, Forest are desperate to strengthen their forward line over the final weeks of the window and Ramos is a player the club have targeted but have already had an opening offer rejected for.

Cooper needs him badly

The signing of Ramos would certainly be a sensational statement to end Forest’s exciting transfer window, as the player is considered one of the best young players in Europe right now.

The Portuguese 21-year-old is thought to be worth €40m (£33.7m) by Benfica, so it is no surprise that Forest’s original bid of £27m wasn’t enough to tempt the club into parting ways with their rising star.

As a result, if the powers at The City Ground are serious in their intentions to sign the player this summer they will need to improve their bid considerably, despite already spending over £80m on 12 new players already.

A new striker is reportedly a top priority for Steve Cooper, and there is no doubt that Ramos can deliver exactly what the team needs after they failed to register a single shot on target against Newcastle United last weekend.

Over 29 league appearances last season, the versatile player scored seven goals, delivered one assist and created three big chances and took 1.9 shots per game, but it’s not just his club performances that have captured the attention of the football world.

Ramos currently occupies a spot in the Portugal U21 team scoring 14 goals in just 18 appearances for the youth national side, bagging 13 times in as many games during the UEFA European U21 Championship qualification.

With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that scout Jacek Kulig once said he possessed some “outrageous numbers,” leading us to believe that such a player who knows how to find the back of the net is something the Garibaldi desperately need.

The young player who was also hailed as “talented” by popular Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, has played in almost equal measure in both the centre-forward role and as a second striker, so it wouldn’t rule out Cooper’s opportunity to get the very best out Ramos and new Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi should the Welsh manager want to deploy both.

With that being said, the signing of Ramos would be a big coup for Forest in their pursuit to improve their chances of retaining their Premier League status. However, they will need to put up a much more tempting offer for Benfica to allow their rising star to leave the club this summer.