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Former footballer Frank McAvennie has claimed that Rangers boss Michael Beale should look to give academy talent Robbie Ure a run in the team.

What’s the word?

The Ibrox side have been without key striker Antonio Colak since November and while he was on the bench in their last game, it remains unclear as to how ready he is to make an immediate impact after missing a few months of action.

Alfredo Morelos has been playing up top for the club of late but with his future uncertain it might be time to start planning for the future already.

With all that in mind, McAvennie has stated that 18-year-old forward Ure could be worth throwing in, just to see how he fares in the first team.

He told Football Insider: “I heard people talking about how Ure is pretty good. Why not bring him in?

“I do not get why other managers do not do it. I know they are under pressure and all that but he is under pressure with the fact that he is struggling for strikers.

“All I have heard about is this boy up front for Rangers, so I would play him. It is a baptism of fire.

“You have got to be a certain kind of person to play for Celtic or Rangers. You are a different breed from everyone else, especially if you like it.“If Beale puts him in, who knows what he could do. If he is doing well for the youth team then put him in. He has got nothing to lose. It would be better putting him in than somebody in midfield up front.“ Big chance incoming?

Ure has actually already scored for the senior Rangers team despite having only played twice at that level. Indeed, he netted the first goal of the game on debut in the League Cup against Queen of the South last August.

He certainly knows how to get his name on the score sheet regularly too. So far this season, in all competitions (senior and youth) he has scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in 29 appearances.Ure has played just one minute in the SPFL this term – coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw against St Mirren – but may well add to that in the coming weeks.He’s certainly done it at youth level, and perhaps he could be the man to replace Morelos when the 26-year-old striker finally does leave Ibrox.

Leeds United look set to ‘complete a move’ for Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter, according to Transfermarkt reporter Stefan Bienkowski.

The Lowdown: Rutter linked with Leeds

The Whites appear to have turned their attention to the 20-year-old after completing the signing of Max Wober earlier this week.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg shared news ofthe club’s interest in Rutter, with the French forward seemingly open to a move to Elland Road. It looks as if a potential transfer is gathering pace nicely, with a big-money deal now firmly on the cards.

The Latest: Move set to be completed

Bienkowski took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon to share what he’s heard about Rutter and Leeds, citing an update from colleague Daniel Busch.

The reporter said that ‘Rutter is set to complete a move to Leeds’, with a ‘deal worth between €30-€40m’, which amounts to somewhere in the region of £26.4m-£35.2m.

The Verdict: Record signing?

Brenden Aaronson is Leeds’ most expensive signing of all time, arriving last summer from Red Bull Salzburg for €32.84m (£29m), as per Transfermarkt.

Therefore, it appears as if there is a real possibility that an agreement for Rutter surpasses that figure, which would be a real statement of intent from Victor Orta and the Elland Road hierarchy.

Providing that a move goes through, you’d expect that Jesse Marsch will be looking at the 20-year-old to make an immediate impact, providing some much-needed centre-forward competition to Rodrigo, with Patrick Bamford’s injury troubles failing to show any signs of improvement.

Arsenal have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their upcoming meeting with Oxford United in the FA Cup this evening.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta revealed that Emile Smith Rowe – who has not featured in a competitive fixture since September 2022 – could make his long-awaited return from a groin injury at Oxford tonight, with the Spaniard suggesting that, should the attacking midfielder train well over the weekend, the England international is set to feature.

When asked when the 22-year-old will likely be back in action, Arteta said: “[On Monday] if he trains well, he will hopefully be available to give us something in the game.

“We need him fit and at his best, and when we have that, we have an incredible player that we have missed a lot in the last few months. He can play as an attacking midfielder, as a winger and even as a nine; I think he’s played there before.”

Huge boost

Considering how important a part of Arsenal’s first-team squad Smith Rowe very much proved himself to be last season, coupled with Arteta having recently lost both Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson to long-term injuries, the news that the versatile forward is now set to make a return to first-team football will undoubtedly come as a huge boost to the 40-year-old manager.

Indeed, over his 33 Premier League appearances last time out, the £35m-rated attacker was in sensational form going forwards, scoring ten goals, registering two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.2 shots – 0.7 of which hit the target – making 0.9 key passes and completing one dribble per game.

These returns saw the £40k-per-week talent average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as Arteta’s joint 11th-best performer in the top flight of English football in 2021/22.

Furthermore, as previously mentioned, with both Jesus and Nelson looking set to spend a considerable amount of time on the treatment table – a duo that had scored seven goals and provided nine assists over their combined 27 outings in all competitions this season – the return of Smith Rowe could not have come at a much better time for the Gunners.

Indeed, while the Premier League leaders should have enough to get past their League One opposition this evening even without Smith Rowe, the availability of the 22-year-old is nevertheless fantastic news for Arteta – who will undoubtedly be looking to keep the Gunners’ hopes of a famous treble alive at the Kassam Stadium tonight.

Glasgow Rangers turn their attention away from Premiership action for this weekend as they face off against Aberdeen at Ibrox in the League Cup.

The Light Blues have the chance to secure their place in the final of the competition by beating the Dons today, after winning 1-0 against Dundee FC in the previous round.

Michael Beale has won five of his six competitive games in charge of the Gers so far, drawing the other match, and he could now book a place in his first final as the club’s head coach.

Rangers come into this game off the back of a 2-0 win away at Dundee United in the Scottish top-flight and the manager may look to make alterations to his side in order to give others a chance to impress.

Whilst Malik Tillman started in the number 10 role and scored in last weekend’s win, Beale must finally unleash academy graduate Alex Lowry from the start today.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has only featured in one match for the former assistant manager and has not played a competitive match for the club since the 28th of December.

Lowry started in a 3-0 win over Motherwell and put in a solid shift in his rare opportunity to catch the eye. As per Sofascore, the gem won five of his nine duels, managed two shots on target, and completed 85% of his attempted passes as he earned a rating of 7.00.

The teenager has been in splendid form for the B team throughout the 2022/23 campaign and his form for the reserve side indicates that he deserves another chance to show what he can do in the first-team.

In one assist for the young Gers.

Lowry was given opportunities to impress under Gio van Bronckhorst last season and contributed with seven first-team outings, which shows that he does have the quality and maturity to make an impact for the senior side.

In an interview with The Athletic, Scottish coach Andy Goldie lauded the midfielder as being “gallus” and a “master” of the ball and these comments indicate that he would be an exciting player for the fans to watch in action as he is a technically gifted, brave, young player. 

The dynamo has shown signs of promise at first-team level and Beale must finally give him a chance to prove his worth by placing the gem in the starting line-up against Aberdeen.

Luton Town defender James Bree would happily join Southampton in the January transfer window, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

The 25-year-old has been a key player for Luton this season, playing every single minute of their Championship campaign so far, but has been linked with a move to Southampton.

The move would reunite him with Nathan Jones, who recently joined as the successor to Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke claimed that the right-back would be delighted to make the move, as Southampton look to strengthen their defence.

He said: “I’m sure the player would jump at the chance to be reunited with Nathan Jones and the chance to go back to the Premier League as well, having had a short time there with Aston Villa previously.

“He’s a top player and I’m sure he’s somebody who could come in there and provide good cover and competition in the right-back spot.”

A useful signing

With Tino Livramento still injured, Bree would provide reliable cover at right-back, and would also be a familiar face for Jones in the dressing room as he tries to steer Southampton out of trouble.

After an initial poor start, Jones has helped Southampton begin to recover their form as they recorded an important victory away at Everton, and bringing in reinforcements should further help their survival efforts.

Bree would gain a chance to prove himself in the Premier League, and if he does so, he could forge a top-flight career as he approaches his peak years, so we would agree with O’Rourke that he would be keen on a move to the south coast before the month is out.

Leeds United acted with minimal fuss when going about their business earlier in the window, securing deals for Max Wober and Georginio Rutter with haste and little sniff of a drawn-out transfer saga.

However, when looking to bolster their midfield, the same unfortunately cannot be said.

Their pursuit of numerous targets has dragged out over the course of the whole window, and they still have nothing to show for it. It seems like they are keen to find a readymade replacement for Adam Forshaw, who seems set to see out his £20k-per-week deal as it comes to a close this summer.

One such name that has cropped up as a potential target is Ramiz Zerrouki, who has starred in the Dutch league for many years now.

The 24-year-old boasts a classy yet combative presence in the engine room and would provide an instant upgrade on the ageing stalwart.

This season has seen the 31-year-old limited to cameo appearances from the bench, and with just one league start in January, it speaks volumes for his position at the club.

Meanwhile, his potential alternative is boasting a 7.35 average rating that has led FC Twente to within four points of the top of their league.

Their sensational run has been propelled by the maestro, who is averaging 82.9 touches per 90 at the moment. His mastery with the ball at his feet is unparalleled, as he dictates the play with ease.

Zerrouki’s qualities would even make him a fine option to feature beside Tyler Adams and Marc Roca, should Jesse Marsch strive for more solidity in the midfield.

This is due to his fine defensive work rate, as he also records 3.1 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game.

To pair this with 1.6 key passes per game truly outline him as the quintessential all-around midfield machine, and although he is labelled a “promising midfielder” by journalist Dolf Ruesink, he actually seems to already be fulfilling his potential.

What helps exacerbate the scale of his qualities, is that when compared to other midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 6% for passes attempted and the top 8% for tackles made.

With the ability to push forward or dictate from deep, the acquisition of such a phenomenal individual will have fans quickly forgetting all about Forshaw.

Newcastle United are receiving interest from AC Milan for French winger Allan Saint-Maximin amid the ongoing reports surrounding Anthony Gordon.

What’s the latest?

It has been strongly reported that the Magpies hold an interest in Everton winger Gordon, with the two clubs discussing a potential deal.

And it has now been claimed the 21-year-old has once again skipped Everton training on Thursday amid the stories circulating around his future.

And with a new winger potentially coming through the doors at St. James’ Park, it seems as if one could possibly be heading for a departure with AC Milan showing interest in Saint-Maximin.

However, speaking on Sky Sports News, reporter David Reed has claimed the Toon are not particularly interested in selling Saint-Maximin this month:

He said: “A few stories around Allan Saint-Maximin – his situation, from what we know, is that AC Milan have been considering him as a potential alternative to Nicolo Zaniolo.

“The fee, though, that Newcastle would ask for Saint-Maximin is significant. And the feeling is that AC Milan would struggle to reach that figure. Add to that, the fact that Newcastle don’t want to sell.”

Surplus to requirements?

Wingers certainly feels like a position Newcastle have in good supply with the likes of Miguel Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Alexander Isak and even Joelitnon at the disposal of Eddie Howe.

But it is believed the Toon are optimistic they can land Gordon this month despite the previous £60m valuation on the youngster from the summer window.

There is certainly no harm in having a strong squad when Howe is looking to secure his side a spot in the Champions League for next season.

And the likes of Isak have already shown they are not necessarily the most reliable in terms of their fitness with the Swedish forward already missing a lot of games during his short spell on Tyneside through injury.

However, if Gordon does arrive in the final days of this January window, you do have to question where Saint-Maximin would sit in the pecking order.

It has been a difficult campaign for the Frenchman who has seen his game time from the starting XI seriously decrease with just four starts in the Premier League to his name.

However, he has still returned four goal involvements in his limited Premier League game time which is more than what Gordon has returned for Everton – albeit the 21-year-old has scored more goals.

But given Newcastle’s dreadful injury record over the last year – especially with the likes of Callum Wilson – there shouldn’t be any real pressure on them to sell Saint-Maximin this month.

Manchester United are in full flow under the tutelage of manager Erik ten Hag, riding a resurgent campaign thus far and still competing across every front, but the need for a world-class centre-forward remains paramount.

While imposing powerhouse Wout Weghorst was signed on loan this month to fill the hole left by Cristiano Ronaldo, who terminated his contract by mutual consent, there indeed remains a vacancy for a leading European goal-scorer to spearhead the attack of the new era of the club over the coming years, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen among the leading candidates for transfer at Old Trafford according to reports in Italy.

It would be a costly move, however, with any deal potentially set to cost in the region of €140m (£123m).

Haaland 2.0

The Premier League giants will undoubtedly be buoyed by the swift rekindling of former fluidity, having finished in sixth place in the division last term.

But in order to maintain the continuation of changes that are finally re-asserting the Red Devils’ authority after such tumultuous fortunes since Sir Alex Ferguson left his iconic managerial position in 2013, the crafting of a refined new skeleton must not waver.

And by landing the 24-year-old “machine” – as dubbed by reporter Mina Rzouki – that is Osimhen,  who has scored 13 goals and provided four assists from only 15 appearances in the Italian top-flight this term, the unabating flow of goals would fall into place at Old Trafford.

By forging a transfer, Ten Hag might actually have his answer to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who has become something of a problem for the Premier League since his arrival last summer.

According to FBref, Haaland is indeed one of the most comparable players to the Napoli hotshot, ranked third on the list of ‘similar players’.

Haaland has obliterated the standard of what was considered superlative when assessing first-rate strikers in English football, with his 31 goals from 26 appearances across all competitions an unprecedented tally of offensive precision at the Etihad Stadium.

Osimhen, who ranks among the top 3% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 8% for touches in the offensive box indeed offers an arresting similarity to his Norwegian positional peer’s own arsenal, with both players mastering the fine art of pace and deadly precision in the penalty area.

Ten Hag will be all too aware of his side’s neighbours, who indeed have made much of the noise over the past decade in the prestigious footballing city, and Haaland’s introduction to City boss Pep Guardiola’s plans is a truly concerning conundrum for United, who are seeking their own clarity over their stature as a leading force.

Journalist Oluwashina Okeleji heralded Osimhen as a “monster”, and John Murtough could swiftly eradicate every ounce of worry by successfully swooping for Napoli’s Nigerian phenomenon, who could even the playing field and bring the Theatre of Dreams that crucial step closer to the return to former glory, and the Man United board must put issues over Napoli’s pricing and make their move.

Journalist James Copley doesn’t believe Sunderland will be bringing in a free-agent striker anytime soon.

The Lowdown: Sunderland light at striker

Sunderland only managed to bring in youngster Joe Gelhardt on loan during the January transfer window to address their striker woes, having lost Ellis Simms to Everton and Ross Stewart going down with a season-ending injury.

That could well prove to be a costly decision, especially given the Black Cats are just two points outside the play-offs as things stand, so they have a great chance of securing back-to-back promotions.

Copley took to Twitter on deadline day to vent his disappointment over the club’s lack of ability or willingness to recruit another striker before the transfer window slammed shut and he certainly doesn’t expect them to move in the free agency market.

The Latest: Free agents not likely to arrive

Despite Sunderland’s lack of options at striker, Copley admitted on The Roar podcast that he isn’t thrilled by the options on the free-agent market, and therefore can’t see any of them joining the Black Cats.

He said: “After the deadline, you sort of look at the free-agent market and you start trawling lists of players: Mexicans, and 32-year-old Germans, and Russians and all that sort of stuff.

“From what we know about the club and how they operate, I can’t see that as a market they would explore.”

The Verdict: Mowbray been left very short

Tony Mowbray is very unlikely to be pleased with how the club have handled the striker situation as he’s lost his top scorer to a long-term injury and hasn’t been able to replace him.

While bringing in Gelhardt was something of a coup for Sunderland given his pedigree and talent – he has already registered nine goal involvements for Leeds United – the 20-year-old now has a heap of pressure to hit the ground running.

Even if Gelhardt does that this weekend against Millwall, he then has to keep that up until the end of the season, and considering he’s never started more than five games in a league campaign before, he could very easily burn out in a few months’ time.

TalkSport pundit Danny Mills has urged Leeds United to not reappoint Marcelo Bielsa following the sacking of Jesse Marsch.

The Lowdown: Marsch sacked

Marsch was sacked by Leeds following their Premier League defeat at the weekend, with the American spending less than a year in charge of the club.

Former boss Marcelo Bielsa was mooted as a potential managerial candidate for the Whites along with the likes of Rafael Benitez and Carlos Corberan.

It was the Argentinian who helped Leeds attain the Championship title and promotion to England’s top flight in the 2019/20 campaign.

The Latest: Mills on Bielsa

Mills praised Bielsa’s time at Elland Road, but doesn’t think the club should reappoint him following the dismissal of Marsch.

Speaking on TalkSport, he stated: “I don’t think that would be the right appointment. Bielsaball was tremendous, it was fantastic. But it does have its flaws and I don’t think that’s what you need to get out of a relegation battle.

“In fact, that’s what got him into a relegation battle in the first place. It’s very, very difficult to play that type of football. You’re down the bottom of the league because you don’t score enough goals and you’re conceding goals, simple as that. You’ve got to address one of those situations.

“Whether you think it’s right or wrong, you look at the appointment of Sean Dyche at Everton and you’re thinking, well, he’s going to stop conceding goals. He’s going to make them very, very solid.

“If Bielsa comes into Leeds, they might score one or two more goals, maybe, but they didn’t do that last time towards the end of his tenure, and they’re going to concede loads.

“So is that going to improve them? I’m not so sure. But, incredibly strange, what, 48 hours to go, away to Manchester United? That could be disastrous for Leeds.”

The Verdict: Fresh change

We believe that Leeds shouldn’t bring in a former manager of the club and should look for someone who’s experienced in a Premier League relegation battle.

One report has linked former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl to the Whites’ managerial job, and we think the Austrian would be a good appointment.

The 55-year-old managed to steady the ship for a few years on the south coast, following a narrow escape from the bottom three under Mark Hughes.

Hasenhuttl has previously been at the helm of RB Leipzig as well as the Saints, so there’s a possibility he could gel well with a number of Leeds’ Bundesliga exports.

Georginio Rutter, Tyler Adams and Marc Roca all made the switch from the German top flight to join the Whites.

Some fans may turn their nose up at the idea of Leeds appointing the Austrian based on where he left Southampton when he was dismissed.

However, Southampton are no better off, and you could argue that had he been given more time, he would’ve had a better chance of keeping them up than Nathan Jones, though you would understand any scepticism given they had ended up in similar trouble to when he initially took over.

But having never been relegated from the Premier League, you could see the sense in getting the ex-Saints boss in.