Wolves and Gary O’Neil now keen on signing "talented" wonderkid

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now keen on signing a "talented" starlet, who is wanted by a whole host of Europe's top clubs, according to a report.

What's the latest Wolves transfer news?

Wolves have not made the best of starts to the Premier League season, currently sitting in 16th place, having lost four of their opening five matches, and they have been particularly disappointing in a defensive sense.

At this early stage in the campaign, the Old Gold have already shipped 11 goals, the second-highest amount of any side in the top flight, most recently suffering a 3-1 defeat at home against Liverpool.

However, it is still too early for Gary O'Neil to hit the panic button, given that his side have faced tough opposition in Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool, and there have been very few recent links to any new signings.

One of the few players Wolves have been credited with an interest in is Portuguese free agent Xeka, with the central midfielder attracting the attention of a number of Premier League's clubs after his Rennes contract came to an end.

According to a report from 90min, the Old Gold are also keen on signing Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco, but it may be very difficult to win the race for the 19-year-old, as a number of Europe's top clubs are now vying for his signature.

Brighton are leading the race for the youngster, but the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Brentford and Nottingham Forest have all watched him in recent weeks, with Wolves also sending scouts to check on him.

Boca Juniors are keen to agree a new contract with the defender, as his current deal includes a release clause of just £8m, and they are hopeful he will be willing to extend his stay at La Bombonera.

Despite the £8m release clause, Football Insider have recently reported it may take a fee of around £15m to tempt the Argentine Primera Division club into a sale, although that is not likely to present an obstacle for the top English sides.

Should Wolves sign a left-back?

It may not be prudent for the Molineux outfit to shell out £15m on a new left-back, considering O'Neil already has a talented young option available to him in Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has featured in all five Premier League games this season.

Ait-Nouri ranks in the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and the 97th percentile for successful take-ons, displaying his attacking threat, so left-back is not a position O'Neil urgently needs to strengthen.

Boca Juniors defender Valentin Barco.

That said, if Wolves were able to win the race for Barco's signature, he could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad, having been hailed as "one of the most talented left-backs in world football" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Kulig has also claimed the Boca starlet is "the future" of Argentinian football, but it seems unlikely he will make the switch to Molineux, considering the likes of Man City, Brighton and Newcastle are interested.

Newcastle eye up James Ward-Prowse move

Newcastle United are interested in making a move for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to a new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Ward-Prowse a standout for Saints

Saints are having a tough season in the Premier League, looking like they could get relegated to the Championship, as things stand.

While many of their players have struggled throughout the campaign, one individual who seems to have continued to produce consistently strong performances is Ward-Prowse.

The 28-year-old has been a talisman for Southampton, scoring seven goals and registering two assists, including a stunning trademark free-kick winner away to Chelsea.

Ward-Prowse could feel that it is time for a fresh challenge this summer, however, and if Saints go down, it is difficult to see him remain at the club.

That’s where Newcastle come into play, as they look to make significant signings during the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing up move

According to Football Insider, the Magpies are ‘eyeing up a move’ for Ward-Prowse at the end of the season, seeing him as a strong option to bring in.

The report states that the Englishman ‘is set to quit the Saints in the summer if they fail to stay in the Premier League’ and Newcastle have sent scouts to watch him in action. They are not alone in that respect, though, with Liverpool and Manchester United doing the same.

Ward-Prowse’s current Saints deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, so it will likely take a big offer to prise him away from the south coast club.

The Verdict: Great option for Magpies

Ward-Prowse could be an excellent signing by Newcastle, coming in as someone with a wealth of experience and quality who can enhance Eddie Howe’s squad depth greatly from the off.

At 28, the 11-cap England ace is at the peak of his powers and that shouldn’t change over the next three or four years, especially given his endurance levels in midfield.

Ward-Prowse’s free-kick ability speaks for itself, with few in Europe better than him in that area, and Nathan Jones hailed him as ‘absolutely world-class’ during his time in charge of Southampton.

Away from the technical aspects of his game, the £100,000-a-week midfielder is also a tenacious figure who would suit Newcastle’s hard-working style well, having averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game in the league this season, as well as picking up a total of five yellow cards.

Jurgen Klopp Firm Amid Talk Of £52m Bid For Liverpool Star

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given an emphatic answer when asked about the possibility of Mohamed Salah heading to Al-Ittihad this summer.

Is Mo Salah going to Saudi Arabia?

The big news at Anfield this week is that the club's star winger is reportedly the next key target for the ever-growing Saudi Pro League. Indeed, as per Ben Jacobs, the Egyptian has been offered a huge contract.

The trusted journalist explained on Twitter that Salah could be handed a three-year deal with the promise of making him "one of the best-paid players" in the world. The base wage being prepared is £65m with other earning opportunities on top of that – he added that this package could get close to (or even surpass) what Cristiano Ronaldo is earning at Al-Nassr.

Of course, Liverpool do already have a working relationship with Saudi too, having sold Fabinho to Al-Ittihad for £40m this summer, as well as Jordan Henderson to Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq for around £12m.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

However, according to Fabrizio Romano's report in The Guardian, the Reds have no intention of selling their prized asset, with Al-Ittihad previously thought to be willing to bid about £52m for the 31-year-old.

Further backing this up, manager Klopp has now publically made his position very clear when speaking to the press this week. As seen in this video shared by Football Daily, he sounded adamant that Salah's wasn't for sale.

In full, he said: "If there is something coming up, well I don't think [there is], or I don't know, then I can think about that. But I said already, if there would be something [from Al-Ittihad] it would be a no."

When asked if he felt Salah was still committed to Liverpool, Klopp insisted he was, saying: "100 per cent."

How many goals has Salah in his career?

It's not a surprise that the winger is being targeted by the Saudi Pro League. After all, having already landed top players like Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Neymar and Aymeric Laporte this summer, Salah would be the next jewel in their crown.

And with 264 goals and 133 assists in 558 games across his entire career (with 187 of those coming for the Reds), he certainly would be a huge coup for Al-Ittihad as they look to bring more European football stars to the Middle East.

One thing that will be a big boost for any concerned Liverpool fans – on top of the evidently strong insistence from their club and manager that Salah is not up for sale – is the fact that the player's agent has already insisted this summer that his client won't be leaving Anfield.

Indeed, Ramy Abbas Issa took to Twitter at the start of the month to say: "If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC."

Still, we all know money talks within the world of football so it will be very interesting to see how this plays out over the coming weeks. It certainly doesn't feel as though this potential saga has quite been put to bed just yet.

Howe Eyeing Bruno 2.0 With Newcastle Move For £21m "Steering Wheel"

Despite bolstering the ranks this summer, Newcastle United still look to be in the hunt for further midfield signings, and have identified Brazilian prospect Victor Hugo for transfer.

What's the latest on Victor Hugo to Newcastle?

That's according to Brazilian outlet Bola VIP, who claim that the midfield talent has left the Magpies enamoured after his performances in his homeland, with the Premier League outfit 'monitoring' his progress.

It's even believed that Eddie Howe's side will now look to invest in the dynamic midfielder, with a formal offer for the 19-year-old now said to be forthcoming.

Newcastle are expected to table a bid of €24m (£21m) for Hugo and expand the Brazilian core of their centre, with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton already plying their trade at St. James's Park.

Who is Victor Hugo?

Guimaraes is not only Newcastle's starring Brazil international but one of the most impressive stars in the Premier League.

The magnitude of his arrival to orchestrate the long-awaited Tyneside renaissance cannot be understated, and each of his 57 appearances for United have succeeded in continuing the ascent since his £40m move from Lyon in January 2022.

His arrival coincided with the genesis of Newcastle's turnaround, just a few months on from the affluent PIF takeover and Howe's deployment in the managerial role, and he is now renowned as the centrepiece of the club's midfield, hailed as "magnificent" by Alan Shearer.

Hugo will hope to emulate his senior peer and utilise his own positional versatility, having played centrally in offensive and defensive roles this term – as well as occasional stints out wide.

Described as the "steering wheel" of his side for his sway over the Fluminense system by journalist Rodrigo Lima, Hugo might be in the early phase of his career but is already attracting attention for his performances.

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes.

As per Sofascore, the teenage talent has produced an average match rating of 6.98 in the Brazilian top-flight this year, scoring a goal and assist from 15 appearances (just five starts), completing 88% of his passes, forging 1.1 tackles per game, winning 63% of his ground duels and succeeding with 72% of his attempted dribbles.

He bears the emblem of prodigious talent and is a rising star with a variegated ability to allow him to thrive at the highest level, also ranking among the top 3% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions – behind the big European five – for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, which could serve him well on Tyneside if he does put pen to paper this summer.

Guimaraes plays more of a deep-lying role than his countryman, but thrives among a multitude of midfield roles and would be an apt mentor for Hugo to absorb the fruits of his craft, having been described as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn for his impact at the club.

And he also ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons, indicating his superlative technicality, which could be passed on to someone like Hugo.

Howe is making all the right moves to consolidate his squad's success last term and continue the meteoric rise into the fresh campaign, one that will hold heightened expectation and a return to European competition, and while Hugo would initially serve as an understudy of sorts, it might be the perfect time to sign him on and mould him into a first-rate phenom.

Spurs: Late £13m signing could help send Eric Dier packing

While the recent early exit from the Carabao Cup will no doubt have stung for Tottenham Hotspur, it has largely been a positive start to life under new boss Ange Postecoglou so far, with two wins and a draw from the club's opening three Premier League games.

Despite that solid opening to the new regime, it looks as if the former Celtic boss is still keen to further strengthen before the end of the window, with Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo a player of particular interest to the Lilywhites.

How much would Tosin Adarabioyo cost?

Following reports linking Spurs with a move for the 25-year-old earlier in the summer, 90min has reported in recent days that the north Londoners still hold a strong interest in the 6 foot 5 titan, with the player 'set to move on' before the close of the window.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

As per the piece, Postecoglou and co are believed to have offered Eric Dier to the Cottagers as a potential sweetener in the deal, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the 29-year-old will move on this summer, after spending the last nine years at Tottenham.

With just a year left to run on his contract, Adarabioyo is likely to be available for something of a bargain fee if he is to depart any time soon, with a €15m (£13m) fee having previously been suggested.

How good is Tosin Adarabioyo?

Previously dubbed "immense" by former boss Tony Mowbray during his time on loan at Blackburn Rovers, it is fair to say that the current Fulham man has particularly blossomed since making the move to Craven Cottage back in 2020, having begun life on the books at Manchester City.

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The towering asset was particularly impressive last term as the then newly-promoted side comfortable mid-table finish, notably averaging a solid 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game from his 25 league outings – a better return than Dier achieved for instance (two tackles and interceptions per game from 33 appearances).

Tosin Adarabioyo for Fulham

While, as stated above, Dier may be keen to stay put beyond the deadline, the signing of a figure like Adarabioyo could well help to nudge him out the door even if the Englishman does not head in the other direction to Fulham, with Bayern Munich having been touted as a possible option of late.

As per journalist Ryan Taylor, the former Sporting CP man is arguably "nowhere near the required level for what Spurs are trying to achieve", hence why he has found himself out of the picture under Postecoglou thus far.

One particular benefit of bringing Adarabioyo into the fold would be his ability to play out from the back as he notably ranks in the top 18% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, while Dier ranks in just the bottom 40% in that regard.

With the latter man having potentially outstayed his welcome – as pundit Frank McAvennie previously suggested that "Tottenham will not succeed with Dier in the team" – the signing of a standout replacement could well be what is needed for Postecoglou to finally send him packing.

West Brom flop who left on a free in 2021 now outperforming Diangana

West Brom conceded in the final dying moments at the Hawthorns last match to lose to Leicester City 2-1, exposed on the break after overcommitting numbers with Harry Winks sliding in to convert a crucial winner for Enzo Maresca's Foxes.

Carlos Corberan will hope that his Baggies side won't be too disheartened by the nature of narrow defeat, that loss was only West Brom's second loss from their last five Championship matches with wins coming in the other contests.

Grady Diangana continues to underperform for the West Midlands side which will be a worry for Corberan, the exciting Congolese forward coming away from the Leicester match with a dire overall 6.2 Sofascore rating.

It was a lacklustre 75-minute display from the Baggies number 11 – only mustering up one shot all game which was blocked – with his first team future in jeopardy if he continues to underwhelm.

On the contrary, former West Brom dud Kamil Grosicki – who can usually operate on the opposite flank to where Diangana regularly features for his team – is now outperforming the misfiring 25-year-old with his new employers back in his native Poland.

How much West Brom signed Kamil Grosicki for

West Brom must have thought they'd struck gold when they signed a then in-form Grosicki for a reported fee of £800k with add ons, poaching the winger from Hull City.

Grosicki had been a consistent bright spark for the Tigers amidst turmoil off the field alongside Jarrod Bowen, the popular Polish attacker breaking Hull hearts when he moved on – scoring 26 goals and assisting a further 27 over four seasons at the MKM Stadium.

The move to West Brom just didn't work out for Grosicki however, leaving the Hawthorns on a free transfer after a torrid short stay at the club.

Kamil Grosicki's statistics at West Brom

Grosicki would only manage to score one goal for the Baggies from 19 appearances, the attacking midfielder never acclimatising to his new surroundings in the west Midlands fully.

It led to Grosicki having a frosty relationship with then West Brom boss Sam Allardyce, the one-time Bolton Wanderers boss turned Baggies short-term appointment calling the former Tigers man out for rejecting a move away from the club that could have been a lifeline.

Allardyce was rather blunt when questioned about Grosicki's lack of opportunities at the Hawthorns in the first team: "He could've gone to Nottingham Forest, but he refused."

Instead, Grosicki would have to pick up the pieces of his disintegrating football career back in his native Poland when he was released by the Baggies in 2021 with the 35-year-old now having the last laugh.

Grosicki would rejoin Pogoń Szczecin, the club that started the Polish winger's footballing journey in 2006 that saw him play in the EFL and beyond.

Kamil Grosicki's statistics since leaving West Brom

The 35-year-old, who now wears the captain's armband for his hometown club, has been the standout performer this season for Pogoń Szczecin.

Scoring 13 times in total during his first full season back on home soil, the experienced attacker has eight goals and nine assists in all competitions so far this campaign.

Three of those goal contributions even came in Europa Conference qualifying for Pogoń Szczecin, helping his team beat Northern Irish opposition Linfield 5-2 away at Windsor Park.

In contrast, Diangana for the Baggies only has three goals and three assists in Championship action this season.

Grosicki will continue firing in goals and providing teammates with assists out in Poland to end his career with a bang, whilst Diangana back at the Hawthorns needs to pick up form quickly or face the axe by an impatient Corberan.

Leeds: Academy star could be a ‘phenomenal’ Ampadu partner

Leeds United are no different to any other English club, in that their fans absolutely love to see an academy graduate thrive in the first team.

So, for Daniel Farke, he must surely stick by the notion that 'you do not fix what isn't broken' with regard to one of his current starters.

Deadline Day marked a busy one for the Whites, who scrambled to add some much-needed depth to their squad before the window slammed shut.

Succeeding in doing so, they welcomed three new faces to bring their summer acquisitions up to nine, as a fine number to offset the 15 departures they had overseen.

One of their starring acquisitions at the eleventh hour came for just £5.5m, as they tempted Glen Kamara to trade Ibrox for Elland Road in order to aid their promotion charge.

How good is Glen Kamara?

The Finland international had starred for Rangers ever since moving in 2019 but admitted that "I feel I just needed a change in my career and Leeds is the perfect place to kick-start my career again" in his first interview with his new club.

After all, he had accomplished most of what was possible in Scotland, having won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup, as well as featuring in the Champions League. The 27-year-old is now set to bring a wealth of experience to Yorkshire, with the hope that he can recapture the form that saw him lauded during the 2021/22 campaign.

glen-kamara-transfer-gossip-leeds-united-farke-ao-tanaka-dusseldorf

Maintaining a 7.01 average rating in the league, his six goal contributions and 1.3 key passes per game outlined his creative credentials, but paired it with a 91% pass accuracy and one tackle per game too, adding some solidity as well, via Sofascore.

All signs point towards Kamara being instantly thrown into the starting lineup given what he has achieved in the Scottish top flight, but it should not be that easy for him to usurp the exceptional Archie Gray after his start to the season.

How is Archie Gray playing?

Having only made his competitive debut in Leeds' Championship curtain-raiser with Cardiff City, the 17-year-old impressed many with his mature and combative midfield display in a 2-2 draw.

He has since featured in every single game across all competitions thus far, and earned special praise from club legend Jermaine Beckford on Sky Sports (via Leeds Live): "He played with such maturity, he was so confident on the ball. He didn't rush, he didn't panic at all. Everything about his game today was absolutely spot on, and if today is anything to go by, this kid has such a bright future ahead of him.

"He's in the right place to learn, he's got a little bit of everything in him. Phenomenal player, he did really well today."

Tom Elliott

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Archie Gray

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Although his 6.6 average rating perhaps does not emphasise the scale of Gray's influence, who is the son, great nephew and grandson of three former Whites stars, his 84% pass accuracy and 1.4 tackles does showcase that quality in possession and toughness in the tackle that has earned praise, via Sofascore.

The partnership he has struck up with Ethan Ampadu marks one of the few shining lights to emerge from a term where they have just one league win thus far, as the Wales international acts as more of a dictator to allow his teenage teammate to spread the play.

As such, the 22-year-old maintains an 86% pass accuracy alongside 1.2 key passes, 2.4 tackles and 2.2 clearances per game in the league, via Sofascore.

Another pundit, Michael Dawson, outlined the kind of creativity that this foundation allows Gray to showcase: "The ball from Archie Gray is absolutely sensational. He picks the ball up just on the right-hand side in his own half and hits a long diagonal pass to Sinisterra, who runs at Harry Clarke and he lets him get in the box, chop inside and whip the ball into the far post."

Although Kamara may be the outstanding option on paper, Gray has certainly merited a sustained period of first-team football to continue solidifying a fine partnership with the former Chelsea general.

Leeds In "Advanced Talks" To Sign "Solid" £10m Wober Heir

Leeds United are in "advanced talks" regarding a deal to bring Liverpool defender Nat Phillips to the Championship, according to reliable journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Nat Phillips leaving Liverpool?

Phillips has been at Anfield for the past seven years after initially joining the club’s U23s on a free transfer from Bolton back in 2016, and whilst he’s been involved in the senior first team fold since, he’s failed to ever make a significantly positive impression under Jurgen Klopp.

In the Premier League last season, the centre-back was handed just one start which shows not only how low down in his manager’s pecking order he is but also the fact that he needs to think about completing a move elsewhere should he want to get regular minutes under his belt moving forward.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

Whites reporter Beren Cross previously revealed that the 49ers made several enquiries for the 26-year-old earlier in the summer and remain interested in securing his signature, which isn’t surprising considering The Athletic’s Phil Hay confirmed that Daniel Farke was keen to recruit him at Norwich, and the boss appears to be taking a second bite of the cherry when it comes to landing his target.

Are Leeds signing Nat Phillips?

Taking to Twitter X, Galetti revealed that Leeds are progressing in negotiations with Liverpool over a summer swoop for Phillips which would see him make the permanent move to Elland Road. He wrote:

"Advanced talks between #LeedsUTD and #Liverpool for Nat #Phillips. The parties are discussing some details about the proposal set at £10m, add-ons included. The CB has been targeted by Leeds as one of the ideal profiles to replace #Wober, now on loan at #Gladbach."

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

How good is Nat Phillips?

Leeds will know that Phillips wasn’t given a fair chance to prove what he was capable of last season, but he’s more than showed what he can bring to the table when handed the rare opportunity to play having been dubbed "absolutely insane" by Jurgen Klopp, so this could be an exciting move should it come off.

The PLG client averaged two aerial wins and one tackle and interception per top-flight game during the previous campaign and was calm and composed in possession recording an 86.6% pass success rate, via WhoScored, which was higher than any of the regular starters in Yorkshire, meaning he’d be an upgrade on the boss’ current options in that sense.

Furthermore, the 6 foot 2 colossus is even capable of getting involved with the action in the final third having scored four goals and provided three assists in 99 appearances throughout his career, so being a defender that can positively impact the game at both ends of the pitch, he's the perfect profile of player to be pursuing.

Finally, Phillips has the versatility to operate at right-back alongside in the heart of the defence which would be a useful attribute to have in the building considering the long-term injury to Stuart Dallas, so this deal really is a no-brainer to complete should the financial conditions be ideal.

Tottenham Make Shock Folarin Balogun Approach

Tottenham Hotspur have registered their interest over a potential move for Folarin Balogun from rivals Arsenal, however, a report has shared the other Premier League clubs who are also in the race for the forward.

Are Spurs signing a striker?

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy appear to be on the search for a new forward before the September 1 deadline after cashing in on Harry Kane earlier this month.

Those in north London sold the England international to Bayern Munich in a deal worth around €100 million (£86m) plus an extra €20 million (£17.2m) in possible add-ons.

Postecoglou has Richarlison as the only senior striker available to him, with teenager Alejo Veliz joining earlier in the summer.

A number of attackers have been linked with moves to Spurs, including KAA Gent’s Gift Orban and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson. Another player who has been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Balogun, and an update has emerged.

According to The Daily Mail, Balogun has been deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal and is valued at £50m by the Gunners. The report claims that Tottenham are a side who have made an enquiry for the attacker, alongside both Chelsea and West Ham.

Balogun has spent time training away from Arsenal’s senior side this summer as the Gunners look to raise some funds late in the window, with Monaco, AC Milan and Inter Milan also keen on the striker’s services.

Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun
Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun

Who is Folarin Balogun?

Balogun is primarily a centre-forward who can also turn out on either wing if required. The 22-year-old, who has represented the USA at senior international level, appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which has rocketed over the past 12 months.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

In total, Balogun, sponsored by Adidas, has made just 10 senior appearances for the Gunners in all competitions and has caught the eye out on loan. The forward spent last season in France with Stade Reims and contributed to an impressive 25 goals in 39 appearances.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has also praised Balogun in the past as a "special" striker and believes he's "really brave".

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave," said Arteta.

“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special."

It could be a deal to keep an eye on, however, with Arsenal likely to inflate the price of the player to a direct rival, Spurs may well find it difficult to strike a deal for Balogun, meaning they may end up moving on to other targets such as Orban or Johnson.

Rangers Could Sign New Todd Cantwell At Ibrox

Glasgow Rangers got their first victory of the 2023/24 Premiership campaign at the weekend, defeating Livingston 4-0 at Ibrox.

With a vital Champions League qualifier to come on Tuesday evening, it was a step in the right direction and Michael Beale will be turning his attention to not only securing a win but also bolstering his squad.

Who could Rangers sign this summer?

According to Bristol Live, the Light Blues are showing interest in a centre-back heading into the final few weeks of the transfer window.

That player happens to be Zak Vyner. Indeed, he has entered into the final year of his current contract and while ‘fresh terms’ were offered earlier this year, the defender has yet to sign them, fuelling talk of a potential exit in the coming weeks as it represents the last chance Bristol City have of securing a fee for him.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

Beale will face competition from Championship side Southampton, yet the lure of European football and the chance to win trophies should be more than enough incentive for the 26-year-old to choose Ibrox over St Mary’s.

Who is Zak Vyner?

The Gers have so far been linked with moves for Jake Cooper and Harry Souttar as Beale aims to bring in another defender, and Vyner is the latest name touted with a move.

By signing a player from an EFL club, the Ibrox side could certainly repeat their Todd Cantwell masterclass before the end of the window.

Todd Cantwell

The former Norwich City starlet arrived from the Championship in January and although he was once linked with a move to Aston Villa just two years ago, his form had dipped in the second tier.

Under Beale’s leadership, however, the 25-year-old was revitalised upon arriving in Glasgow. He registered 11 goal contributions across 20 games – six goals and five assists – while also ranking third for overall rating (7.36) and fourth for successful dribbles per game (1.5), demonstrating how much of a positive influence he had by moving north of the border.

Vyner has already experienced Scottish football, spending a brief spell on loan at Aberdeen during the 2019/20 season and he has grown into a solid centre-back who could give Beale another option at the heart of the defence.

The 5 foot 10 gem averaged 1.6 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game last season in the Championship and these statistics would have ranked him seventh and first in the Rangers squad respectively.

He also offered a decent attacking threat, creating three big chances, which would have placed him joint-second across the defenders at Rangers while he registered four goal contributions, again, ranking him joint-second compared to the centre-backs at the Glasgow side.

It’s evident he could fit in well, especially with these statistics and his manager, Nigel Pearson, lauded him last term, saying: “Zak’s a good player, he’s come through the academy, and he’s probably suffered from being versatile. He’s matured this season there’s been more reliability.

“He’s gained experience and developed through the players that he’s played alongside as well so those things together are all a part of a player’s development. Even players in their 30s can develop and improve themselves if they’ve got an open mind.”

With the chance to secure his signature for a knockdown fee, Beale could bring a player who is arguably heading into his peak years to the club for a pittance, replicating the successful Cantwell deal in the process.

It would be a shrewd investment, no doubt about it.

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