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Rangers have begun their search for a new manager after Steven Gerrard accepted the offer to move south of the border, with several exciting candidates being linked with the Gers vacancy at Ibrox.

What’s the story?

The 41-year-old decision to depart Glasgow brought an end to his successful three-year reign, and attention has already turned to who could succeed him.

Bruce Archer, a journalist for The Sun, took to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, revealing who he would appoint as Gerrard’s placement, suggesting that Paulo Fonseca would be a good choice.

Other exciting candidates such as Russell Martin and Giovanni van Bronckhorst have been touted as potential heirs, but Fonseca is arguably the one with the most impressive CV.

Exceptional Gerrard successor

Fonseca first established himself as a top-class manager during a hugely prosperous three-year spell at Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk.

Between 2016 and 2019, the 48-year-old claimed three successive league titles and three successive domestic cups, earning him a move to Serie A outfit AS Roma.

The highly regarded tactician transformed the capital club into a genuine force in European competition once again during his time at the helm, overseeing an exciting and entertaining style of play at the Stadio Olimpico.

Speaking to Tifo Football, The Athletic’s James Horncastle declared: “I’d put them with Atalanta and Sassuolo as the league’s entertainers,” while Alex Stewart described his style as “exciting.”

In fact, despite their Europa League exit last season at the semi-final stage, Portuguese journalist Alex Goncalves still backed Fonseca to enjoy a big career.

He tweeted: “It’s a bad result for Paulo Fonseca today, a 6-2 defeat to Manchester United. His managerial CV is exceptional, & his managerial ability matches it, but his time at Roma may be coming to an end. A talented manager who plays stylish football likely to be available this summer.”

It’s evident that the head coach who Massimo Ambrosini dubbed a “modern” manager is someone who has a history of achieving success with a number of unfavoured sides, as well as one who can get his team playing brave, attacking football on the front foot.

His record of domestic and continental success will surely make him an intriguing option for Rangers’ hierarchy, and his appointment is something that director of football Ross Wilson must carefully consider over the coming days.

And, in other news…“Early favourite”: Journalist drops huge Rangers manager claim, fans will be ecstatic

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants to be in charge of incoming and outgoing transfers at the club, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: New era at Old Trafford

The 52-year-old will head to Old Trafford at the end of the season, looking to bring the glory days back to United after a dismal few years for the Red Devils.

Ten Hag enjoyed great success during his time with Ajax, winning two Eredivisie titles, along with reaching the Champions League semi-finals back in 2018/19.

It is now nine years since United won a Premier League title and it is imperative that the rot stops sooner rather than later, with the 52-year-old hopefully the man to fix the club’s issues.

The Latest: Ten Hag makes key demand

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Ten Hag wants to have a big say in which players leave and which individuals arrive this summer. The journalist outlined:

“He wants to be involved in the incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford, alongside Richard Arnold.

“If Ralf Rangnick is still there in an advisory capacity as well, I’m sure they’ll all be working together to see if they can get the best players to Manchester United because it’s going to take a bit of a rebuild at Old Trafford this summer.”

The Verdict: Makes complete sense

Part of United’s failure in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era is that it doesn’t always feel as though managers have had the final say over new signings.

That is something which simply has to change now, with Manchester City and Liverpool both perfect examples of allowing their managers to have a big say on transfer dealings. Painful as it is to admit for United, those two clubs are proof of that setup working.

It makes complete sense for Ten Hag to have exactly the players that he wants to work with, which could leave quite a few current Old Trafford individuals sweating going into the summer, given this season’s ineptitude.

In other news, United are expected to make an offer for a La Liga star. Find out who it is here.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli…

What’s the talk?

According to the Northern Echo, the Magpies’ chances of landing the England international in January have diminished, with there now being an expectation that he will remain at Spurs until next summer.

The report claims that Newcastle previously viewed him as a realistic transfer target due to his lack of game time, but they could now abort their plans to sign him.

Save NUFC’s season

Nick Hammond has been appointed as a short-term transfer consultant for the club and he must now use his expertise to secure a deal for Alli in January.

He needs to convince Tottenham to part ways with him and then make sure that he is able to offer him a suitable package to go along with whatever pitch Eddie Howe produces to tempt him into making the switch.

The former Reading chief could save Newcastle’s season by doing this, as Alli has previously shown that he has the quality to be a difference-maker at this level.

In 266 games for Spurs, he has produced 67 goals and 61 assists. This includes 51 strikes and 37 assists in 180 Premier League matches. The 25-year-old has proven himself in the top-flight of English football and, therefore, would surely come in and provide a lift to the Magpies.

Ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino previously handed him high praise by comparing him to two footballing icons. He said:

“You smell Maradona’s energy, his charisma is amazing.”Ronaldinho at Paris Saint-Germain was similar. And it’s similar with Dele. People love him in this way. When you add the charisma to the talent, that’s what makes a special player. When he was scoring goals, kids loved him like he was Ronaldinho.”Kids feel this charisma, this energy, and with Dele it’s the same; he has this charisma that kids love and follow.”The £100k-per-week dynamo, who was previously dubbed a “freak” of a talent by Darren Anderton, has enjoyed four seasons scoring eight or more goals in the Premier League in his career. Last term, Callum Wilson (12) was the only Newcastle player to find the back of the net more than eight times.Howe’s side are 19th in the table after 18 matches and have only picked up one win all season. This shows how dire the situation is and why Alli’s goals and assists could be crucial for them, as he could come in and pop up with match-winning contributions that win vital points in the battle against relegation.That is why Hammond can save Newcastle’s Premier League season by working hard to complete a deal for Dele, whether that is by getting Spurs or the player himself to push for it to happen.

AND in other news, Sissoko 2.0: Howe could unearth a new beast for NUFC in “extraordinary” 6ft1 machine…

Rangers could accept an offer for Brandon Barker in the remaining days of the January transfer window, according to The Daily Record’s Robbie Copeland. 

The lowdown

The Gers picked up the winger from Manchester City’s under-23s back in August 2019. He spent the end of last season on loan at EFL League One outfit Oxford United, and he has only made one appearance for the Light Blues so far in 2021/22, which came in the 4-0 Scottish Cup fourth round win over Stirling Albion last weekend.

His deal at Ibrox is due to expire at the end of May, and there seems to be no prospect of a renewal under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The latest

Copeland wrote for The Daily Record that there is ‘little hope’ of Barker resurrecting his Rangers career.

The Premiership champions are ‘likely’ to sanction ‘any deal’ which gets a portion of the 25-year-old’s wages off their books until the end of the campaign, as he is currently costing the Ibrox club more than £10,000 per week.

The verdict

It would be wise for Rangers to get Barker off their books. Ideally, they could offload him on a permanent deal and bank a six-figure fee, but failing that, they could save funds by splitting his salary with a loan club.

His former Rangers team-mate Andy Halliday believes that the 25-year-old is capable of hitting ‘unbelievable’ levels when he gets a run of games, but has Barker really earned that opportunity? In his 27 matches for the club, he has only been able to contribute three goals.

In fairness, his return of seven goals and assists for Oxford was reasonable, so maybe there will be more EFL interest before the transfer window closes next week.

In other news, read what some fans made of Barker’s performance in that recent cup tie.

Aston Villa have not been reluctant in bringing new players to the Midlands during the January transfer window, with Lucas Digne, Robin Olsen, Calum Chambers and Philippe Coutinho all making their way to Villa Park in the past few weeks.

However, it appears as though the Villans have put an end to the possibility of one particular deal being struck before the 11pm deadline arrives.

What’s the latest?

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Villa have “decided against pursuing a deal” for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma this month.

Having been linked with the Mali international earlier this month, with a reported bid of £25m rejected by the Seagulls for their midfielder, it seems as though the Midlands club will not be making any further attempts to try and lure him to Villa Park before the end of the transfer window.

Furthermore, with Brighton reportedly wanting a fee in the region of £50m for Bissouma, this could be a factor as to why Villa have seemingly given up their attempts to sign the 25-year-old after already splashing out £25m to bring in Digne from Everton.

NSWE are taking a big risk

Even though it would take a club-record transfer fee from Villa to sign Bissouma this month, it would be a big risk in the short-term for the club owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris not to secure the Brighton maestro given how Marvelous Nakamba is out of action through injury, and after missing out on signing Rodrigo Bentancur this month as well.

Thinking on a long-term basis, with Bissouma being young but experienced in the Premier League and recent reports casting speculation over the futures of Douglas Luiz and Carney Chukwuemeka, adding the Brighton star to their ranks could be a great investment for the Villans for the foreseeable future.

With that in mind, depending on how Villa’s midfield situation looks at the end of the season, they should definitely try and make a move to bring Bissouma to the Midlands during the summer transfer window, if Brighton would be willing to negotiate a suitable deal for him.

In other news: Gregg Evans drops big AVFC deadline day update which will surely leave fans thrilled

A big Newcastle United update has emerged on Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed that the Magpies are keen on the Mali international heading into the summer transfer window, although he is not the only player in their sights.

Speaking with Football FanCast, Downie said: “I think Bissouma is a player of interest. I think that’s all it is at the moment.

“I think it’s going to be very much like January where they’re looking at a lot of players… a lot of players.”

Supporters will be delighted

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and the club’s supporters will be delighted by this claim, as they would surely love to have Bissouma in the squad for the 2022/23 campaign.

The 25-year-old has been in fine form this season and Brighton reportedly valued him at £50m in January. This shows how highly his current club rate him and his statistics for the Seagulls this term back it up as he has consistently showcased his quality in the middle of the park.

In the Premier League, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.06 across 21 matches, making a whopping 5.1 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 59% of his duels.

This is not a flash in the pan from Bissouma either, as he also caught the eye last season. In 2020/21, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.07 in 36 outings – making 4.7 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 59% of his battles – almost identical to his form in the current campaign.

These statistics show that he is a proven Premier League performer, as he has been able to consistently deliver quality displays on the pitch over the past 18 months or so.

Meanwhile, no central midfielder for Newcastle has averaged a Sofascore rating of higher than 6.95 (Bruno Guimaraes) this season in the top flight, while Jonjo Shelvey’s score of 7.04 was the highest in 2020/21.

Therefore, Howe will be delighted by PIF’s interest in signing Bissouma, who would be an upgrade on what the Toon boss currently has at his disposal. The Malian has been able to perform at a higher standard than the likes of Shelvey, Joe Willock and Joelinton, although it is hard to judge Guimaraes considering that he has only been at the Tyneside club for a few months.

At the age of 25, Bissouma also has room to grow and develop even further, and Howe may be eager to help the midfielder fulfill his potential. It is now down to PIF to work their magic…

AND in other news, “I’m hearing..”: Keith Downie drops big Newcastle claim which will infuriate Howe…

Speaking to Polish news outlet Meczyki, West Ham United mainstay Lukasz Fabianski has made an intriguing comment involving Primeira Liga giants Benfica.

The Lowdown: Fabianski ‘untouchable’…

Despite the summer signing of Paris-Saint Germain shot stopper Alphonse Areola on a season-long loan with the option to buy, Hammers veteran Fabianski has remained one of the first names on manager David Moyes’ team sheet domestically.

This is despite a previous claim from Football Insider that the Scotsman was planning to steadily phase Areola into his starting eleven and eventually replace the ‘untouchable’ 36-year-old on a more regular basis.

Indeed, since signing from Swansea City back in 2018, the keeper has gone on to make 111 appearances in all competitions – but he has had opportunities to make a move elsewhere in that period.

The Latest: Fabianski drops Benfica admission…

Speaking to Meczyki, the former Arsenal man has lifted the lid on direct contact once made to sign him from Portuguese giants Benfica.

When asked about rumours of the specific offer from Portugal, Fabianski confirmed they were in fact real.

“Yes it’s true. It was after the first season at West Ham,” he explained.

“The people from Benfica contacted me directly and said they were interested in me.

“They wanted to discuss the details so I redirected them to my agent. He already had further talks, but to be honest I did not take this proposal seriously.”

The Verdict: Interesting admission…

Given Fabianski had opportunities to move elsewhere, as now confirmed by the man himself, the fact he chose to remain in east London, even during some of the darker days, should only endear him to Irons supporters more.

The keeper has gone on to become a good servant for Moyes and some fans may even be hoping he decides to extend his stay past 2022.

Whether that would be as a back-up to Areola or another new signing remains to be seen.

In other news: ‘Incredible’, ‘Bargain’…Pundit blown away as West Ham eye ‘very, very good signing’ for Moyes, find out more here.

Liverpool trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita and Luis Diaz stole the show as the Reds overcame Benfica 3-1 at the Estadio da Luz in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side came away from Portugal with an all-important two-goal cushion ahead of the second leg at Anfield in a week’s time.

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Despite it being far from a vintage Liverpool display, the quadruple-chasing men in yellow were clinical at pivotal moments as the hosts afforded their visitors plenty of opportunities in front of goal. Ultimately goals from Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and a first for the club for Ibrahima Konate saw Klopp’s side leave Lisbon with a healthy scoreline.

As per stats from Sofascore, whilst some of the usually exemplary stars fell below their best, three players in particular stood out on the night.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.6)

Back in the team following a minor hamstring niggle which ruled the 23-year-old out of contention for England recently, the marauding right-back was certainly back up to speed in Portugal.

Showcasing a sublime range of passing once again, the Liverpudlian completed 55 of his 64 passes (86%) on the night and was so often the man to unlock a well-drilled Benfica backline. Alexander-Arnold provided two key passes –  including one raking ball which led to the second goal – and completed 11 of his 13 long balls.

Not content with an attacking masterclass from full-back, the young defender also proved his defensive acumen with three clearances, one tackle and one interception. While Mane matched his overall rating, the right-back comes third on our list as, unlike the Senegal star who was substituted on the hour, he played almost the entire match.

Naby Keita (7.9)

So often the man to be replaced on the hour mark by Klopp, it was telling that the Guinean was left on the pitch on this occasion as Thiago was instead sacrificed.

The 27-year-old was a pivotal cog in the engine room for the Reds and an impressive all-around display was underpinned by a 102-touch tally for the energetic midfielder – the most by any Liverpool player.

Keita ended the evening with one assist and two key passes to add to a 55.5% ground duel success rate (won 10 out of 18).

Luis Diaz (8.1)

Diaz received the highest rating at the Estadio da Luz from both sides as the Colombian yet again proved to be a superb January transfer window capture.

The 25-year-old was at the heart of everything in an attacking sense from Klopp’s charges and the ex-FC Porto forward marked his return to Portugal with a goal and an assist. Completing three of his six dribble attempts and creating one big chance on a plate delivery for Mane, this was yet another stellar outing from the flying winger.

In truth, it could’ve been even better for Diaz as the newest Kop icon squandered a big chance to further cement a nigh-on perfect European night for Liverpool.

In other news, Liverpool target could be set for summer exit. Read more here.

Rangers have enjoyed a strong first transfer window under manager Gio van Bronckhorst as they have made two additions to their ranks at Ibrox.

James Sands has arrived on an 18-month loan from New York City FC and John Souttar is poised to arrive in the summer after penning a pre-contract agreement with the central defender.

Football Scotland reporter Mark Hendry has claimed that the Dutch head coach is now eyeing up a deal for a Scottish youth international this month.

He Tweeted: “EXCLUSIVE! Rangers interested in Motherwell and Scotland prospect Bailey Rice as Manchester City also weigh up move.”

Patterson 2.0

Van Bronckhorst could land the club’s next Nathan Patterson by securing a swoop for Rice this month as he is a promising young player with the potential to break into the first team down the line.

The right-back made the breakthrough at Ibrox and went on to play 27 times in the senior side before being sold to Premier League side Everton for a club-record transfer fee this month.

Managing director Stewart Robertson explained the thinking behind the sale, saying: 

“This is a deal which fits with our long-term, strategic vision for the club. We have been very clear that player trading is an important element of our business model but only when the circumstances suit Rangers.

“We are delighted for Nathan and his family, wish them all the best for the future and they will always be welcome back at Ibrox.”

This shows that the club are looking to bleed through youngsters from the academy and into the first-team in the hope of developing them into a player who can make them a large profit in the future.

Therefore, the signing of Rice could be a shrewd deal as he could follow in the footsteps of Patterson by impressing in the youth teams before breaking into van Bronckhorst’s side in the years to come.

Rice has captained Scotland at youth level and is said to be one of Motherwell’s most talented prospects, which suggests that he has the potential to grow into a top player.

The fact that Rangers and Manchester City have become alerted to his possible availability also indicates that they have seen enough from him at such a young age to believe that he could be a valuable asset moving forward.

This means that he could be the next Patterson for Rangers and Scotland in the future and that is why van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson must work hard to pip Pep Guardiola’s side to his signature.

AND in other news, Major development emerges in “groundbreaking” Rangers move, GvB will be buzzing…

Dundee United’s Jeando Fuchs has revealed that he’s been approached by Rangers over a possible transfer.

The lowdown

Fuchs joined United from La Liga club Alaves in October 2020 and has gone on to make 45 appearances to date.

He’s virtually been an ever-present in the line-up this season and boasts averages of 2.3 tackles, two interceptions and 1.4 accurate long balls per 90 minutes – the former of which is more than any Rangers player.

His manager Tam Courts accepts that interest is inevitable given that Fuchs is a ‘top player, not just for us but in this league’ (via The Courier).

The latest

In an interview with Foot Mercato, Fuchs was asked if he’d been the subject of any ‘concrete’ interest.

He replied that ‘there have been contacts from Rangers’ as well as their arch-rivals Celtic, ‘but nothing more’.

The 24-year-old also revealed that there was interest from three EFL teams (Blackpool, Peterborough United and Wigan Athletic), an unnamed Premier League side and Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart.

The verdict: Gerrard plot to inadvertently sink Gers?

One particular name stands out from that lengthy list of interested parties – Stuttgart.

That’s because Steven Gerrard, the former Rangers manager, reportedly has his eyes on their incumbent left-back Borna Sosa.

If Gerrard is successful in efforts to bring Sosa to Villa Park, Stuttgart could in theory move for the £720,000-rated Fuchs as his replacement.

Perhaps when Rangers face Dundee United in less than a fortnight’s time, Giovanni van Bronckhorst will seek to pull Fuchs aside and win him over, but the sheer amount of teams interested in his services could make this a difficult one for the new Gers boss to pull off.

In other news, fans slammed this man’s performance against Dundee FC.