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Rangers manager Michael Beale will want to make wholesale changes to his squad, believes Barry Ferguson.

The Lowdown: Rangers under Beale

Beale has begun life at Rangers brilliantly with 13 points from a possible 15 following their 2-2 draw in the Old Firm derby.

After just two wins in five SPFL games before the World Cup break, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked and replaced by Beale, who has righted the Gers’ form and overseen them put in a gallant performance against Celtic.

The Latest: Shaping his squad

Despite the unbeaten start, former Rangers captain Ferguson said on The Go Radio Football Show that the new boss will want to shape his team as quickly as possible to take the club back to the summit of Scottish football, after their draw against the Bhoys proved they’re heading in the right direction.

He said: “At least Rangers showed me something in the second half, they showed a real appetite, a real desire, a real togetherness.

“And I’m sure Michael Beale will be happy going forward. But he still knows that there does need to be some changes within that squad, a bit of personnel changes; there will be some going, there will be some coming in.”

The Verdict: Important deals to be done

With Rangers nine points off the league leaders, who’ve only dropped four points all season such has been their imperious form, there’s only so much that team togetherness can close the gap.

There will undoubtedly be a busy Rangers rumour mill in the January window with the Englishman looking to build his side, but a more realistic time to do so will be the summer window, with more players available and the extra six months giving Beale more time to ponder the next steps over players’ futures and potential incomings at Ibrox.

There are also big questions over the key futures of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and loanee Malik Tillman, who are all set to depart Glasgow at the end of the season as it stands.

Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has warned Antonio Conte that the Tottenham Hotspur board will not be happy with his ‘thinly veiled’ transfer messages.

What’s the word?

If you read between the lines, the Spurs boss certainly hasn’t tried to hide his hopes that the club will make notable investments in the January transfer market this winter.

For instance, he recently confirmed that Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr won’t be going on loan because he has too many games to play and the squad depth isn’t deep enough.

And so, while talking on the Transfer Talk Podcast, Sheth wondered if this was another message to the board and warned that Conte has to be careful with his comments.

He said: (43:14): I think it was the Crystal Palace game, when he was mentioning that Matar Sarr or Oliver Skipp were his only two options, we were thinking: ‘Oh, is that another thinly veiled message to the board to say, I need more players?’

“Is everything he’s saying another thinly veiled message to the board to say, I need more players?

“I mean, it can’t continue like that because the board will not be pleased if Antonio Conte’s continually making these kinds of comments that indicate that he’s not being backed.”

Bite your tongue

On top of those latest comments, Conte also complained to the press (via football.london) that Tottenham’s squad is a ‘little gun compared’ to other teams who have a ‘bazooka’.

In full, he said: “The level now is very, very high and the level improved because Manchester United invested a lot of money and they already had important players and then put other players. Chelsea did the same, Manchester City did the same and Arsenal did the same.

“You always see one following the others. Also if you invest £50m or £60m then the other arrives with a bazooka and you only have a little gun compared to their bazooka.”

So it’s easy to see why Sheth would be suspicious of the Italian’s words then and it could be a concern if the board at Tottenham also interpret them as a bit of a transfer dig.

No doubt Conte wants big money spent this winter but it remains to be seen if there is any truth to the rumours linking them with players such as Jordan Pickford.

Jon McLaughlin may have replaced Alan McGregor as the Rangers number one goalkeeper, Sky Sports contributor Alan Hutton has claimed.

What’s the word?

McGregor has been the Rangers number one since returning to the club in 2018, but the 40-year-old has spent some time on the bench with McLaughlin starting, and was on the bench for the Gers’ 2-0 win away at Dundee United.

McLaughlin, 35, received a 6/10 rating as Rangers kept a clean sheet, and Hutton believes that Michael Beale may prefer him for his style.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claimed that the Rangers manager may start to pick McLaughlin going forward.

“Normally when you look at teams in general, I know it is slightly changing now, the back four and goalkeeper used to stay the same” Hutton claimed.

“You build up those partnerships, you know when the keeper is coming out, what he is going to do with the ball.

“I did listen to Beale and his explanation. He obviously thinks McLaughlin is slightly better at coming for cross balls, he thought that was going to be a target for Dundee United to get the ball into the box.

“You have to take him at his word. We will soon find out in upcoming weeks if he has decided to change his mind long-term but he did give and explanation for it.“

A long-term solution needed?

Given that the two goalkeepers have a combined age of 75, it is likely that neither will be the first choice over the coming years, and the club will have to find a solution.

McGregor is out of contract at the end of the season, and if he is replaced as the number one by McLaughlin, then the club will have a tough decision to make on whether to keep him on or let him leave.

Beale should target a keeper who he can rely on for the next few seasons, as he looks to make his mark on the squad.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in signing Moussa Diaby during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies have made a ‘fresh’ enquiry over the potential availability of the Bayer Leverkusen forward as Dan Ashworth scouts out targets for the final weeks of the month.

The report claims that the club have held a long-term interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker and remains informed on his situation, with Leverkusen possibly needing to cash in on him if they are unable to move on over players before the window slams shut.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth recently claimed that the Bundesliga outfit wanted €100m (£88m) for the winger last summer and has stated that fellow Premier League side Arsenal made contact over a deal for the gem.

Ryan Fraser upgrade

Ashworth could land Eddie Howe a big upgrade on current Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser by beating off competition from the Gunners and securing Diaby’s signature.

Miguel Almiron has been the club’s go-to option on the right this season and the manager has flickered between Joelinton, Joe Willock, and Allan Saint-Maximin on the left.

Fraser, who can play on both flanks, has made eight appearances in the Premier League and struggled to prove that he is deserving of a place in the squad.

In those eight games, the Scotland international did not produce a single goal or assist and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.71, after scoring two goals and providing three assists in 27 outings for the Magpies in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics show that the 28-year-old has found it difficult to make a significant impact on a regular basis at the top end of the pitch in the English top-flight.

Diaby, who was once praised as being “fearless” by Chronicle editor Aaron Stokes, could come in as a superior alternative to the former Bournemouth man, given his performances for Leverkusen over the last 18 months.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has scored six and assisted three goals – creating 10 ‘big chances’ – in 15 Bundesliga outings whilst averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.21 this season, and plundered 25 direct goal contributions in 32 matches in the German top-flight last term.

Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, Diaby has created 1.9 chances per game on average in the division and this is far more impressive than Fraser’s creative statistics, as the Toon winger has not averaged more than 0.9 key passes per match since 2020/21.

Therefore, Newcastle could land an upgrade on Fraser by securing a deal to sign the Leverkusen forward, due to the dynamo’s potential to be a match-winner for Howe with his regular goals and assists from out wide.

Journalist Charles Watts has reported that Arsenal’s January transfer move for Jakub Kiwior is viewed as a ‘smart piece of business’ by those who know him – and the player could be at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.

What’s the latest? Already this week, Leandro Trossard has arrived from Brighton in a deal said to be worth £21m plus add-ons, but it looks as though the Gunners won’t be stopping there.Indeed, Sky Sports has reported that Arsenal are ‘closing in ‘on the Spezia and Poland defender for a touted £20m fee. When you consider the reported £89m required for Chelsea to land Mykhailo Mudryk, the sorts of deals the Gunners have switched to seem an awful lot thriftier.And while the transfer isn’t yet complete, if Mikel Arteta and co can finalise negotiations, it sounds as though they will be pulling off something of a coup.Indeed, while speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts said: “Juventus and AC Milan were sniffing around him as well. I think West Ham were, by all accounts, as well.”The people in Italy who I’ve spoken to who know him and know the game, they seem to think it’s a smart piece of business. No one was really expecting it, but they think he’s a decent player who could go on and become a top player. He’s very young, still 22, not much experience; he only moved to Italy a couple of years ago from Slovakia.”So not too much experience, but Arsenal believe in him, they’re willing to pay around £20m with add-ons for him, so it’ll go up to about £24-25m, I think.”It’s not done yet, but it is getting very close to being done. I think he’s going to be in England this weekend. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s at the Emirates tomorrow and this deal gets wrapped up pretty, pretty quickly.”Clever move?It’s certainly exciting to hear that Kiwior could be in attendance as Arsenal take on Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend.What’s more, it sounds as though the Gunners aren’t done with their business just yet, as the latest rumours suggest that a loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga could be on the cards – although his current club appear unwilling to sell at present.As for Kiwior, though, it’s not hard to see why he’s so highly rated. Indeed, despite being just 22, he has already established himself as the key man in the heart of the Spezia defence, with 17 Serie A outings to his name this term.On top of that, he has nine international caps under his belt for Poland and started all four of their World Cup games in Qatar this winter, keeping two clean sheets in that period.And so, while many Arsenal fans may not know a whole lot about the defender, they will no doubt be delighted to hear that those who have watched him play feel as though he has great potential to be a top signing.

Manchester United are believed to be working hard on a new deal to extend the stay of Diogo Dalot at Old Trafford despite interest coming from Barcelona.

What’s the latest?

The Portuguese right-back is currently missing from Erik ten Hag’s squad, however, this is not down to his ongoing contract situation.

Dalot is currently suffering from a hamstring issue which has seen him miss a number of games now including the last-minute defeat against Arsenal on Sunday.

He has now missed six (one through suspension) of the last seven Premier League games as speculation grows surrounding possible interest from Barcelona.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has suggested the Red Devils are working tirelessly to tie down their 23-year-old to a new deal:

“So at the moment, he’s not going to leave, of course on a free in summer 2023. But it’s also important to mention that Manchester United are really pushing to extend his contract. There have been meetings with his agents, there will be new contacts and so Manchester United are working on this contract extension.”

Long-term option

Prior to his injury issue, Dalot had become a regular feature in Ten Hag’s side with 13 starts from the opening 13 Premier League games under the Dutch manager (via Transfermarkt).

United were potentially at risk of losing the right-back on a free this summer but have recently triggered a clause in his deal to extend his stay by another year.

However, as Romano suggests, the aim is to tie him down to an extended deal which could see him become the long-term option at right-back for Ten Hag.

In his place, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has stepped in and has averaged more tackles per 90 than Dalot, however, the Portuguese right-back has outperformed Wan-Bissaka in an attacking sense (via Fbref).

Dalot has provided United with more shot-creating actions, more passes and more touches in the attacking third per game than his English alternative.

And Wan-Bissaka will not have done his chances of a regular spot in the starting XI any good against the Gunners after switching off for Arsenal’s first equaliser of the night.

But as for Dalot, it is apparent he is a player who has won the trust of Ten Hag since his arrival at Old Trafford with the Dutchman praising him back in November following a Europa League game:

“I hope Diogo keeps progressing, so not only sticking to this level,” he said.

“Our approach, our philosophy, is that good is not good enough. We have to do better. But we’re happy with the development and the performances of Diogo, that’s quite clear.”

With interest coming from the likes of Barcelona, it does seem as if United could have a really dependable option on their hands and tieing him down to a new deal could be the wisest option for the future.

West Bromwich Albion are interested in signing both Lewis O’Brien and Nathaniel Chalobah in the January transfer window, according to reports on Sunday morning.

The Lowdown: West Brom looking good for play-offs

The Baggies have recovered from a disastrous start to the season in the Championship, with Carlos Corberan changing their fortunes after the exit of Steve Bruce in the autumn.

West Brom now sit 10th in the table and are only one point off the play-offs and their recent form suggests that they could rise further up the division in the coming months.

New signings may be required for that to become more likely, though, and an intriguing reports has emerged in the morning hours.

The Latest: O’Brien and Chalobah in talks with West Brom

According to The Mail on Sunday [via West Brom News], Albion are in discussions to sign both O’Brien and Chalobah before the transfer deadline on Tuesday night.

The duo are currently in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest and Fulham respectively, but neither have been regular presences at those clubs and could be allowed to leave this month.

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The Verdict: Could be a great double coup

If the Baggies were able to bring in O’Brien and Chalobah, it would have the potential to be game-changing in their promotion push, considering the quality they both possess at Championship level. They have only made a total of seven starts in the Premier League between them this season (O’Brien six, Chalobah one) and could be itching to feature more prominently elsewhere.

Although things aren’t working out for them in the top flight, the former started 46 Championship games for Huddersfield Town last term, averaging 2.1 tackles per game as they reached the play-off final, while the latter has 142 appearances to his name in the second tier and has been promoted from the division with Watford and Fulham in the past two years.

O’Brien and Chalobah could provide stiff competition in the middle of the park at West Brom for the likes of Okay Yokuslu and John Swift, giving Corberan the depth to rotate his squad and keep players fresh as the game comes thick and fast in the final four months of the campaign.

Leeds United could still bring in a new centre-back before the January transfer window closes, according to an update on deadline day.

The Lowdown: Centre-back needed

The Whites have struggled in the Premier League so far this season, with back-to-back relegation battles looking on the cards for Jesse Marsch’s side.

Leeds have conceded 33 goals in just 19 league outings, which is more than three of the five teams below them, highlighting the need for a central defender to come in this month in order to address their issues.

While the hours are ticking by on deadline day, a positive update emerged around lunch-time that a late deal is still a possibility.

The Latest: New update emerges

According to Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton [via Leeds All Over on Twitter], there is hope that Leeds could still sign a centre-back to replace to outgoing Diego Llorente:

“It (Llorente’s exit) means LUFC are assessing their central defensive options and they are looking at potential targets today.”

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The Verdict: Vital piece of business

Llorente’s exit to Roma has only heightened the importance for the Whites to make a last-gasp move for a defender, in terms of their squad depth in the second half of the season.

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Granted, there is depth there at the moment, even without the Spaniard around – he has only started seven league games this season – but as many options as possible are needed in the coming months, especially if injuries occur.

It remains to be seen if Leeds can produce some late magic in the transfer market but it could ultimately make a key difference in their relegation fight, taking the burden off the likes of Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Max Wober to remain fit and in form throughout the duration of the season.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are set to continue backing manager Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Out-of-character season

The Reds recently crashed out of the FA Cup after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before following that up with a heavy 3-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, in what’s proving to be a difficult period for the boss.

The Merseyside outfit are sitting 11 points outside the top four following an out-of-character campaign that has seen the 55-year-old receiving chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ by opposition supporters, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be leaving anytime soon.

The Latest: FSG’s stance on Klopp

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, FSG will ‘continue to back’ Klopp despite being ‘under-fire’ for Liverpool’s poor run of results.

The Reds owners are having ‘no doubts’ regarding the German’s position at the helm nor his ability to turn it around and are set to ‘stand’ by him no matter what happens during the rest of the season.

The Verdict: Correct decision

Klopp will of course be under pressure as the man expected to change his side’s fortunes, but FSG sticking by his side is completely the right decision given what he’s achieved over the years.

The Stuttgart native has lost just 73 of his 411 matches in charge, winning a staggering 254 and drawing 84, and he’s currently averaging 2.06 points per game (Transfermarkt).

Liverpool’s boss has also twice been the recipient of the world’s best club coach and he knows his group of players better than anyone, so if someone is going to bring out the best in the squad again, he’s the perfect man for the job.

Leeds United’s poor result at the weekend finally signalled the end for Jesse Marsch, who saw his time at Elland Road cut short just under a year into the job.

The American had struggled to truly find any consistency with the Whites, and despite avoiding the drop last season had failed to progress even with significant investment over the summer and January transfer windows.

His position became untenable as they slipped down to level on points with Everton, who sit in the relegation zone.

With a vacancy now in their dugout, Andrea Radrizzani has a mammoth task of ensuring that his next appointment is a perfect blend of young and progressive enough for a long-term project, but experienced enough to steer them to safety.

The rumours linking them with Steven Gerrard go against many of those principles, given how he had failed so miserably for Aston Villa only recently.

It could even be argued that the 42-year-old would represent a downgrade on Marsch, given his performance for the Midlands outfit and his lack of time in the managerial game.

Having taken over at Villa Park just a few months before the American did at Elland Road, they both were handed significant funds to kickstart their revolutions.

Given their similar timeframes within the job and the money spent, they bear plenty of striking similarities that should be enough to warn Radrizzani away from a potential repeat.

Across his 40 games in charge, Gerrard could only muster 13 wins at a points-per-game average of 1.18. Whilst this might be a minuscule improvement on Marsch’s 1.16 during his 37 games, the gulf in quality between the teams should be enough to stand against the former Liverpool midfielder.

He inherited a side that sat just 16th after 11 games of the season and moved them up to 14th by its conclusion.

Meanwhile, his potential predecessor was handed a defensively-absent outfit that had crumbled under Marcelo Bielsa, weighed down by numerous injuries and a staunch belief in a philosophy that was not working.

Whilst he may have ultimately failed, Marsch did do well initially to get them somewhat back on track to avoid the drop last year.

Gerrard simply failed to progress a stable club despite being handed all the tools necessary. Villa’s recent form under Unai Emery stands as further proof of how quick and easy it was to turn the club around.

Having been lambasted for looking “clueless” in the job and creating a team in that image by broadcaster Rupert Bell, this decision could truly be one that relegates Leeds.

The ex-Rangers boss is hardly an improvement on Marsch, whose side had not won in the league since early November, with his credentials hardly filling the aforementioned criteria.

He may be young but lacked a philosophy to propel Aston Villa forward, and does not boast the experience to offer any assurances about Premier League safety. This would be a ludicrous appointment and a backwards step for the club.