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Glasgow Rangers have moved to strengthen the quality of their squad in the summer transfer window with a host of new signings.

Ross Wilson has been hard at work to improve Gio van Bronckhorst’s options and has brought in John Souttar, Malik Tillman, Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz, Antonio Colak, Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence.

Tillman has been one of the standout arrivals since he joined on loan from German giants Bayern Munich. The USA international has taken to Glasgow like a duck to water and is fast becoming one of the manager’s key players.

He has scored two goals in his last three matches – including a crucial header to send Rangers through in a Champions League qualifier against Union Saint-Gilloise – and has also caught the eye in the Premiership.

In the Scottish top flight, the American gem has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.37 (fifth-best in the squad) as he has scored one goal in three games and produced nine dribbles and five key passes.

The 20-year-old is a multi-level threat as he has shown that he can score goals, create chances and progress the play by dribbling past opponents.

Wilson could now bring in a player to form an exciting partnership with Tillman in the middle of the park by swooping for Charleroi talent Adem Zorgane.

Rangers reportedly had a bid rejected for the central midfielder, but they must now reignite their interest in the gem, as he could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig previously lauded the 22-year-old’s talents,tweeting: “Adem Zorgane is an extremely strong and versatile player with some very good technical skills. He can play almost anywhere in midfield – as a deep-lying orchestrator, box-to-box midfielder and even advanced playmaker if needed. One of the most talented players in Algeria.”

His high praise of the maestro is backed up by Zorgane’s statistics in the Jupiler Pro League. Last season, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.11 and racked up eight assists – also creating eight ‘big chances’ – in 33 starts. He has followed that up by registering two assists and creating one ‘big chance’ in three starts this season.

Meanwhile, no current Rangers central midfielder averaged a score higher than 7.01 or created more than three ‘big chances’ in the 2021/22 Premiership campaign.

This suggests that, if he can adapt to Scottish football, Zorgane could add a level of creativity in that position alongside Tillman that Van Bronckhorst currently lacks.

Therefore, the Algerian gem could form an exciting partnership with the American as they both have the potential to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch. At the ages of 22 and 20 respectively, they could also be a long-term pairing for the club, making the former’s prospective signing an investment for the future as well as for the here-and-now.

Aston Villa return to Premier League action today as they welcome Everton to the Midlands to kickstart their home campaign.

Villains boss Steven Gerrard will be hoping to get his side performing better than last weekend, as they ran out a 2-0 defeat to newly promoted AFC Bournemouth.

Backed in the transfer market with no less than five summer signings, pressure will build on the English boss should he start this season off poorly. Their opening day result may reflect in his team selection to face the toffees.

Here’s the XI we’re predicting for today’s encounter…

In goal, Emiliano Martinez is a certainty to continue in between the sticks, looking to continue his fine form from last season.

Similarly, the back four almost names itself, with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne nailed on to start. Diego Carlos will likely partner Ezri Konsa once more, earning his home debut as Tyrone Mings continues his spell on the sidelines following the stripping of his captaincy as he continues to nurse his injury.

Gerrard will likely continue with his 4-2-3-1 system, allowing his front four to devastate defences with the defensive security of John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara, who made his debut last week and will also be welcomed to the Villa support.

Jacob Ramsey will therefore continue just in front of them and will be given the majority of the transitional burden, as he looks to convert safe play in midfield to chances up front.

It is up front where there may be a change, however, after Ollie Watkins’ surprise omission from the starting squad last week led reports to emerge that the £75k-per-week star was feuding with the manager.

Danny Ings will likely start up front and will be flanked by the South American flair of Emi Buendia and Phillipe Coutinho, forming a scary front three to take on the three centre-backs of Everton.

Predicted Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Carlos, Digne, McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey, Buendia, Coutinho, Ings

Southampton are reportedly plotting a swoop for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and the Portuguese maestro could be the man to save Ralph Hasenhuttl’s job.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic reporter Dan Sheldon, Southampton have held talks with Benfica over a potential move for the 21-year-old, who has caught the eye with his performances in recent seasons.

Any deal for the Portugal U21 international is likely to cost the Saints around £25m, which would surpass the £20m they paid to sign Danny Ings from Liverpool, making it a record-breaking transfer for the club.

He could save Hasenhuttl’s job

Despite the new Premier League season being just two games old, there have already been strong rumours about Hasenhuttl’s job security at the club.

Reports have suggested that some members of the squad were surprised to see the Austrian manager keep his job after a shocking end to last season, while the opening game defeat against Tottenham Hotspur where they conceded four times highlighted that the defensive issues are still present, despite an overhaul at the back.

However, they did well to fight back from 2-0 down against Leeds United last weekend and the former RB Leipzig boss could be saved if he can bring in a striker of Ramos’ quality, as his goals could be the difference for the Saints as they look to avoid a relegation scrap.

The young forward has enjoyed a superb start to the new season at Benfica, contributing five goals and three assists in just five appearances for the Portuguese side.

The Saints definitely need a clinical forward in their ranks, as none of their strikers hit double figures in the Premier League last season, while Hasenhuttl is also without last season’s options Armando Broja and Shane Long.

Southampton underperformed on their xG last season, so a striker of Ramos’ quality could benefit from the chances that they were clearly creating and not converting last season.

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Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously praised Ramos’ “outrageous” numbers for Benfica B where he netted 15 in 37. and now he is producing for the senior side, it seems only a matter of time before he earns a move away, and Southampton could be the beneficiaries.

If he does become Saint’s record signing there will be a lot of pressure on young shoulders, but if he can be a success and fire the Saints up the table, he might just keep Hasenhuttl in the job.

Aston Villa have reportedly made an enquiry regarding the availability of Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga.

The Lowdown: Search for a defender

Villa are looking to bring in a new defender ‘this week’ following a serious injury to summer signing Diego Carlos earlier this month.

The Brazilian is set to be out for the foreseeable future after rupturing his Achilles against Everton. Carlos has had surgery on the problem, which has resulted in Villa being linked with a number of centre-backs, including Tanganga.

The Latest: Tanganga approach

Birmingham Live relayed an update from Sportitalia, regarding Tanganga, who has been heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.

They claim that Villa chiefs have made an approach to Spurs for Tanganga but face competition from Milan and Nottingham Forest.

The Verdict: Unlikely?

Tanganga, who Alan Shearer labelled ‘magnificent’, seemingly does want to leave north London this summer but has had his eyes on a move to Milan.

Therefore, a move to the Midlands could be unlikely at this moment in time, but it makes sense for Villa to test the water with an approach due to their need for a defender.

The centre-back can also turn out as a right-back so would provide cover in numerous areas for Steven Gerrard, and could even still find a role in the team once Carlos returns, rotating both with the Brazilian and Matty Cash.

It looks as if the club want to push through a deal for a defender in the coming days, whether that be Tanganga or someone else, so this will certainly be one to watch in the next 72 hours or so.

Crystal Palace have seen an approach for Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka rejected, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Possible Selhurst return

The right-back swapped Selhurst Park for Old Trafford back in 2019, but has struggled to find consistency of late after falling down the pecking order thanks to Diogo Dalot.

Sky Sports claimed that the Premier League giants were open-minded when it came to the 24-year-old’s future, despite still having two years remaining on his deal.

The same report credited the Eagles with an interest in re-signing their former star, but after making an official proposal, it would appear that the Red Devils have had a change of heart.

The Latest: Palace make Wan-Bissaka approach

Taking to Twitter, Ornstein revealed that Palace, alongside West Ham, have both had offers for Wan-Bissaka turned down, with United now unlikely to sell before the deadline. He wrote:

“Man Utd have received approaches for Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace & West Ham. Both rebuffed as #MUFC don’t plan to sell or loan 24yo; want 2 RBs so if he went a replacement would be needed & looking too late for that.”

The Verdict: Don’t do it…

Palace have already made a bid for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher following his successful loan spell last year, and whilst Wan-Bissaka was a fan favourite, this isn’t a deal that Patrick Vieira should be pursuing in the final hours of the window, instead focusing on the move for the Chelsea starlet.

The full-back, dubbed a ‘beast’ for his defensive talents by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has played just four minutes under Erik ten Hag this season so would likely need a lot of time to get up to speed, while Vieira’s more forward thinking approach than former boss Roy Hodgson doesn’t exactly fit with Wan-Bissaka’s attributes.

Nathaniel Clyne has been doing more than a good enough job in that position so it would be difficult for someone to come in and take his place in the boss’ starting XI.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s footballing career has felt like a rather easy one. He broke into the Liverpool first-team aged 18 and hasn’t looked back since, becoming a mainstay of Jurgen Klopp’s side in swift fashion.He has been one of the vital cogs to their success in recent years with the right-back winning a Champions League and Premier League trophy on his way to contributing to a bucket load of goals in the final third.Indeed, the England international has scored 14 times in the red of Liverpool, while amassing a rather ridiculous haul of 62 assists in 234 outings. Even the most creative of playmakers would be happy with those numbers, let alone a right-back.Back in the day, it was a full-back’s primary function to be able to defend. Think of the no-nonsense defenders of yesteryear and they’d be completely bemused by Alexander-Arnold’s style of play.He is very much about the offensive part of the game and up until now, the defensive side to his play hasn’t been a concern. The Reds dominate possession and with that, the £180k-per-week earner has been able to deliver regular assists for his teammates.The 23-year-old is a creative machine, so much so that he’s been tipped to become a central midfielder in the years to come, even playing in that position for England. How Klopp’s men could do with one of those at the moment given their injury crisis.However, it was a chastening night for the full-back on Wednesday evening who undoubtedly put in one of his worst performances since breaking through into the first team.Alexander-Arnold was part of a defence that shipped four times during a 4-1 defeat to Napoli and he was one of the main culprits throughout the defeat.Indeed, speaking of his performance at full time, journalist Josh Bunting said: “Football is just as much about attitude than it is skill. Trent Alexander-Arnold has shown a horrible attitude to the club that has made him tonight. Shambolic performance the lack of effort. No tracking back, no effort absolutely disgusting from him in my opinion. Disrespectful.”It was a damning assessment of his performance in the loss and a remarkable moment in the 31st minute showed exactly what Bunting was referring to.The incident came as Napoli struck home a second goal through former Fulham man, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. He was able to play a one-two with Piotr Zielinski on the edge of the box before he burst into the area and then fired past Alisson. It was a simple finish but it was made so by the England full-back.It was incredible to see but at no moment did Alexander-Arnold try to intercept the ball or stop a chance from being fashioned. While Anguissa was playing that exchange of passes with Zielinski, the Liverpool defender stood in the exact same spot and refused to move from his position on the edge of the 18-yard box.That goal can be seen below; just keep an eye on the number 66 shirt and you’ll be left appalled at the level of defending.

It was a shocking lack of effort so early into the game and it was a moment that should scare Klopp given the amount of trust he’s shown in his young academy graduate during his tenure.

Over the course of the game, he never got much better. As per SofaScore, the so-called defender won just two of his five defensive duels, completed only 78% of his passes and lost possession of the ball on 22 occasions.

Of course, that is a regularity for a player who likes to deliver so many crosses but that was useless on a night like the one Klopp’s men came across in Naples.

He completely neglected his defensive duties and the German tactician will now need to iron out where it is going so wrong for the Liverpool-born full-back. He simply has to improve the defensive side of his game to be considered in the elite bracket of defenders. At the moment, the horrific levels of defending are scary.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are eyeing up a January move for a centre-back…

What’s the news?

At the beginning of the month, French outlet Foot Mercato claimed Wolves were in the hunt for Strasbourg defender Alexander Djiku alongside Sevilla and now Ghana Soccernet confirms that the club are set to make another offer for the player in the January transfer window.

After losing Willy Boly and Leander Dendoncker, Bruno Lage will be desperate to add another defensive option to his side but might need to wait a few months.

The 28-year-old only has one year remaining on his current deal and could sign a pre-contract agreement at the start of the year.

Imagine him and Nathan Collins

Lage signed Collins in the summer and he has formed a solid partnership with Max Kilman since joining, keeping three clean sheets in seven matches.

That said, with no Boly or Conor Coady, it’s far from a secret that Wolves need to add another defender or two to their squad. Therefore, signing Djiku, who is entering his peak years, would be a positive move by Lage and judging by his attributes, he could be the perfect tonic for Collins and Kilman.

The Ghanaian has won 17 caps for his country and represented them in the African Cup of Nations back in January, where he was a standout performer despite them failing to advance to the knockout stage. Indeed, only three players averaged a higher average rating with the defender averaging 7.03 for his displays.

His performances were so good that he was crowned the Ghana footballer of the year in July and he has carried this form into the current season with Strasbourg.

In eight Ligue 1 matches, Djiku currently leads the Strasbourg squad for SofaScore rating (7.2), accurate passes per game (46.1), and accurate long balls per game (6.8), displaying an impressive passing ability that proves he can successfully build attacks from the heart of the defence.

The defender has also made an average of two tackles per game (2nd in the squad) and 1.9 interceptions (third). He is clearly one of the team’s most consistent performers this season and this has not gone unnoticed with Wolves’ interest.

A move to Molineux would allow Lage to form a solid backbone with Collins and Djiku operating at the heart of the defence.

Zach Lowy described Djiku as “very underrated” as Sevilla were looking for a defender to replace the departed Diego Carlos, although a move never materialised.

The La Liga side’s loss could very much be Lage’s gain when January comes around. Although if he impresses at the upcoming World Cup, there might be a host of potential suitors lining up to make their move.

Newcastle United appear to be looking to the future at present under their ambitious new ownership, with great strides already having been made since PIF walked in the door, as well as following the appointment of manager Eddie Howe.

The Magpies are currently in strong form having picked up 11 points from their opening eight league games in the early weeks of the new Premier League season, only slipping to one defeat thus far to suggest that a relegation scrap may not be on the agenda this time around.

One man who has been on the periphery of that recent resurgence is veteran dud, Matt Ritchie, with the former Bournemouth man seemingly unlikely to play a prominent role for the northeast side moving forward.

The 33-year-old has featured just once off the bench in the top-flight so far this term, with that solitary outing coming as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, making a minute-long cameo against the Midlands side.

The former Scotland international – who arrived at St James’ Park on a £10m deal back in 2016 – made his only other appearance so far this term in the narrow League Cup triumph over Tranmere Rovers, lining up in a right-wing berth against the lower-league opponents.

While the 16-cap man’s versatility to feature both in an attacking role and at full-back has seen him take on a useful role in recent times, the recent investment at the club has only served to further shunt him down the pecking order, with a greater role likely to be hard to come by.

A reliable figure in his six-year stint at Newcastle – with a respectable haul of 24 goals and 33 assists in 190 games in all competitions to date – it does appear that the 5 foot 8 dud may well now have outstayed his welcome, with the ageing talent seemingly now stealing a living at the club such is his limited role.

That is evidenced by the fact that the one-time Swindon Town man is still raking in a rather hefty £45k-per-week salary, having now taken home £14m in total from his wages over the years, as per FBref.

That is a sizeable figure for a player whose best season came in his debut campaign – scoring 12 goals in the Championship in 2016/17 under Rafa Benitez – with Ritchie having rarely quite looked up to scratch at the top level.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly contemplating a move for Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui, following the recent sacking of Bruno Lage at Molineux.

What’s the word?

According to journalist John Percy, in his piece for the Telegraph, the Spaniard has been a ‘previous target’ for the Midlands side over the years, with there a potential for the 56-year-old to be in ‘contention’ again this time around.

The report suggests that the Old Gold are looking to secure a replacement for the aforementioned Lage – who lost his job following the recent defeat to West Ham United – prior to Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea.

Lopetegui had been linked with a prior move to England last summer, having reportedly rejected an approach from Tottenham Hotspur to replace Jose Mourinho in the hot seat.

Disaster

A departure had seemingly become inevitable for Lage following what was a disappointing start to the new campaign, having slipped into the relegation zone after picking up just one win from their opening eight league games, scoring just three league goals in that time – the worst record in the division.

As Percy’s report also alluded to, the former Benfica boss’ exit had also come as a result of the poor end to the 2021/22 season, as the club failed to win any of their last seven league games to secure an underwhelming mid-table finish.

Turning to Lopetegui as the solution to the club’s current problems may not be the ideal choice, however, with the one-time Real Madrid man currently under fire himself following a miserable start to the season in Seville.

The La Liga side are just a point from safety at present after picking up only five points from their opening seven league games, ensuring the Spanish tactician has won 14% of his matches in the league this term. Meanwhile, they are currently bottom of their Champions League group having notably been held by FC Copenhagen last time out.

Such a slump has seen the former Spain head coach tipped for the sack at present, with journalist Colin Millar stating that the club’s supporters are now in “open mutiny” against the manager – as well as the board – after one win from their opening nine games in all competitions.

While any exit in the coming days would ensure that he is available to make the move to England, Wolves supporters likely won’t be enthused about the prospect of bringing in such a struggling manager, with such a move potentially a recipe for disaster as far as the Old Gold are concerned.

Sports injuries expert Ben Dinnery says that Glasgow Rangers supporters will be ‘frustrated’ with the latest news on John Souttar.

The Lowdown: Surgery

As shared by Sky Sports, Souttar has now been ruled out of action until after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, after he had surgery on his ankle.

The central defender suffered an ankle injury when in action for Hearts last season, which kept him out for a number of weeks, although he did return before the end of the campaign ahead of his move to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team in the summer.

The Latest: Dinnery reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in both injury and data analysis, claims that it was a ‘gamble’ for the Ibrox outfit to sign Souttar, due to his injury problems at Hearts, and thinks that supporters will be ‘frustrated’ by his latest setback:

“All things considered, it’s a gamble because you have to look at the pros and cons when recruiting a player.

“As a supporter, you might be frustrated because you want him in the first team. The club will be fully aware of that.

“There might have been a differentiating issue in terms of the timeline, but it’s not always about short-termism that supporters want. Clubs are investing more over the long term.

“You make a judgement call and hope that it pans out and works okay. Unfortunately, up until this point, it appears that it has backfired.

“There are no guarantees when it comes to injury, but you have to remain optimistic that things pan out as you’d like them too.”

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The Verdict: Injuries piling up

The injuries seem to be piling up for the Gers, with Tom Lawrence also ruled out until after the World Cup.

They join the likes of Jon McLaughlin, Filip Helander, Nnamdi Ofoborh and Ianis Hagi on the treatment table, in what is turning out to be a worrying situation for Van Bronckhorst.

As for Souttar, he has only managed to play 67 minutes of football for the Light Blues so far this season, and supporters will no doubt be frustrated that they have not been able to see their new signing in action at all over the last few weeks.