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Glasgow Rangers endured another rough weekend in the Scottish Premiership as their 1-1 draw with St Mirren left the Ibrox giants nine points off the top of the table heading into the World Cup break.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have only won two of their last seven matches in all competitions and struggled to break their opponents down on Saturday as they were held to a draw.

The Light Blues had one more shot on target than St Mirren and both missed one ‘big chance’, which suggests that either team deserved a point.

Meanwhile, Rangers B thrashed Bo’ness United 4-1 and mercurial midfielder Alex Lowry caught the eye with two of the four goals on Saturday.

This comes after the first-team manager decided that he was not ready to be involved in the senior squad. Ahead of the clash with Hearts in midweek, van Bronckhorst explained why the youngster was not going to be in contention to feature:

“Alex Lowry is not in the squad. He is fit to play but not in the squad.

“Well, I can only pick 20, it’s very simple. I hope he will be back soon because it’s a long time ago last season.

“He’s been out for how many months…so for me, it is just a case of seeing the players I have, the players I will need, that’s all I think about. All the players who are in the 20 squad at the moment deserves to be in that squad.”

Lowry was then left out of the matchday squad again as Rangers failed to beat St Mirren and responded to that disappointment by scoring a brace for the B team.

The teenager proved van Bronckhorst badly wrong as he showcased his attacking quality from midfield. He has the ability to provide a spark in the final third and that was something that was clearly missing in the Premiership clash on Saturday, given the aforementioned statistics from the game.

Van Bronckhorst’s quotes on Lowry indicate that he feels the options he has ahead of him are better than the academy graduate but Scott Wright’s performance at the weekend suggests otherwise. The Scottish forward lined up out wide on the right and missed a ‘big chance’ whilst losing six of his eight individual duels.

He has zero goals and one assist in ten appearances in the Premiership this season and his lack of end product has had a negative impact on the side, with his big miss against St Mirren ultimately costing them two points.

Lowry, meanwhile, has scored three goals and assisted four goals in three Challenge Cup matches.

This means that he has registered eight goal contributions in ten B team games this season, whilst Wright has managed just one in 14 Champions League and Premiership clashes combined.

These statistics suggest that Lowry, who coach Andy Goldie dubbed “care free” and a “master” of the ball, has the potential to be a better option than the former Aberdeen winger.

Therefore, he has proven van Bronckhorst wrong for not selecting him in the squad against St Mirren as he could have made a big impact at the top end of the pitch. Instead, Wright continued to struggle with his end product and Rangers fell further behind in the title race.

Arsenal have submitted an enquiry to sign Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Falling out of favour

The German still has three years remaining on his contract at the Allianz Arena but has recently fallen down the pecking order under Julian Nagelsmann, with the likes of Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala being chosen ahead of him.

The Gunners are yet to replace Nicolas Pepe out wide since he joined Nice on a season-long loan over the summer, though it appears that they are keen on bringing the 26-year-old back to the Premier League.

The Latest: Arsenal make Sane enquiry

According to 90min, Arsenal, alongside several unnamed clubs, ‘have asked’ about Sane’s situation, though Bayern made it clear in their response that they have ‘no intention’ of letting him go.

The Bundesliga giants have ‘shunned enquiries’, and whilst the winger is ‘considering his options’, Bayern remain confident that he has the manager’s trust so is therefore ‘unlikely’ to push for an exit.

The Verdict: Blow for Arteta

Arsenal missing out on Sane could come as a huge blow to Mikel Arteta who will know that he is a ‘world-class’ player, as hailed by Jacek Kulig.

The Essen native has made a remarkable 67 goal contributions in just 108 games for Bayern and is very flexible with the ability to operate on both flanks as well as in midfield (Transfermarkt).

With Sane currently at the World Cup and keeping his options open, if he isn’t given the game time he’s looking for between now and the end of the season, a move next summer could be on the cards making this one to watch.

Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position to bring Ruslan Malinovskyi to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Sport Mediaset (via Sport Witness), who claim that Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici are now in ‘pole position’ to land the Atalanta BC attacking midfielder in an €18m (£15.5m) deal this winter.

A further report by Calciomercato also claim that, after making exploratory contact for the 29-year-old in the summer transfer window, the Premier League side have a ‘more concrete’ chance of landing the Ukraine international in January.

Finally, Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) reported on Monday that ‘talks are expected’ between Tottenham and Atalanta in the near future, before the Italian publication claimed that ‘more will be known in the coming weeks’.

Dream Conte signing

Considering just how much Malinovskyi offers in an attacking capacity from the middle of the park, the argument that the 29-year-old would make a dream addition to Conte’s current midfield options at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is an extremely easy one to make.

Indeed, while it is true that Rodrigo Bentancur has started chipping in with goals in recent weeks, in total, the Uruguayan, Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp have scored just seven goals and registered a further four assists over their combined 48 Premier League appearances so far this season.

In comparison, over Malinovskyi’s 30 Serie A fixtures last time out, the £17.5m-rated talent bagged six goals, provided four assists and created 13 big chances for his teammates on his own, in addition to taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 1.5 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the player who Carlo Garganese dubbed “unreal” average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.22, not only ranking him as Atalanta’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 18th-best player in the top flight of Italian football as a whole.

Furthermore, with the £22k-per-week attacking midfielder also able to operate on the left wing and as a left or right wing-back, Malinovskyi could easily fit into either of Conte’s 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 tactical set-ups in north London.

As such, it is clear to see that the Ukrainian sensation would make an unreal addition to the 53-year-old manager’s side in January, leading us to believe the news that Paratici is in pole position to seal a move for the 29-year-old is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the Premier League side.

While West Bromwich Albion are currently benefitting from the new teachings of Carlos Corberan, the Midlands outfit have been quite temperamental when it has come to incomings and outgoings across the past few years.

There have been some impressive figures who graced the Hawthorns through shrewd enough business, but whether it be a lack of pull or a lack of foresight, these have only been fleeting.

However, arguably the most notable blunder of all was their failure to push for Arsenal’s Serge Gnabry after Tony Pulis infamously branded him as not good enough for the Baggies.

His exact quotes from 2015 were:

“Serge has come here to play games but he just hasn’t been for me, at the moment, at that level to play the games. 

“He’s come from academy football and not played much league football — does academy football really prepare players for league football? And we’re talking about Premier League football here.

“As a manager, you pick a team that’s going to win a game of football. You pick your best team.”

The German featured just three times whilst on loan under Pulis before returning to the Emirates in 2016, where he was eventually sold to Werder Bremen.

It was here where he would begin the revival of his career, proving so many people wrong as he earned his move to Bayern Munich, where he now boasts 74 goals and 49 assists across 194 matches.

The 27-year-old has become an integral cog in the German giants’ side, starring on either flank with his blistering speed, quick feet and lethal finish.

This form has since been translated into international football too, where he boasts 20 goals in just 38 caps and has featured heavily at this current World Cup.

Having impressed in his opening game against Japan despite their loss, Gnabry suffered a quieter game as they kept their hopes of qualification alive with a late equaliser against Spain.

This has levelled out to a 6.75 average Sofascore rating, where he proves himself to be a constant threat no matter the opposition.

As well as recording 4 shots, 1 key passes and 1 big chances created per game (via Sofascore), the wide man is not afraid of offering some defensive cover too despite his incredible talent.

He has also averaged 1.5 tackles and 1.0 clearances per game too.

However, what is arguably most impressive is his 100% dribble success rate, which has been something he has excelled at throughout his career.

To watch Gnabry’s meteoric rise that started in the Midlands is a frustrating sight for all those involved in the deal, as he was clearly out of favour in north London.

They were handed the perfect opportunity to mould their own global superstar but passed it up on Pulis’ recommendation.

It stands as one of the worst takes in recent history, as his performances in Qatar only exacerbate just how wrong he was.

Liverpool are monitoring a potential deal which would see Ajax’s Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus swap Amsterdam for Anfield as early as January. 

The Lowdown: Bags of potential

The 22-year-old is delivering on the World Cup stage for his country, scoring two goals in a lively performance and all-important win against South Korea on Monday. 

Kudus has been regarded as a big prospect since he burst onto the scene with Danish Superligaen outfit FC Nordsjaelland, with his last season in Farum seeing him notch 11 goals in 25 appearances in 2019/20. 

A move to Ajax followed, with a lack of starts at the Johan Cruyff Arena a big concern, and his third season in the Eredivisie now seems a crucial one.

Despite a lack of domestic starts, Kudus has made 14 appearances and five goals to his name in the Dutch top flight. 

The Latest: Liverpool looking at Kudus

According to transfer expert Dean Jones, Liverpool are looking at the Right to Dream graduate, with the World Cup giving the Reds “an idea of his mentality”.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about Kudus, Jones said: “Liverpool are looking at him and they just need to make sure he raises the quality of the squad enough if they’re going to go ahead and make that move.

“The World Cup has given them an idea of his mentality and how he can rise to an occasion, I think that’s key. It’s going to be very interesting.”

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The Verdict: Sign him up!

Having been the subject of a £15m offer from neighbours Everton over the summer, Liverpool could well grab a game-changing bargain in Kudus, who could provide Jurgen Klopp with a fresh attacking asset from central midfield. 

The Ghanaian is incredibly versatile and is listed as someone who can play anywhere along the spine of the team from the midfield upwards. 

You can only imagine the impact that Klopp’s coaching could have on Kudus, whose potential over the next few years seems vast, judging by his performances at club and international level.

Given Liverpool’s midfield woes in recent months, he seems like the perfect candidate to come in and revitalise the Reds.

Newcastle United are believed to be keeping a close eye on Brighton and Hove Albion starlet, Moises Caicedo, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

In his column for Caught Offside, the Italian transfer guru revealed that the 21-year-old is a player that the Magpies are tracking ahead of the January transfer window, albeit with no contact having yet taken place regarding a switch for the Ecuador international.

“On midfielders, they are following Moises Caicedo for sure but at the moment there are no negotiations at all with Newcastle. Many top clubs are following him closely,” Romano stated.

The Tynesiders were previously named as one of the potential suitors for the midfielder back in October should the Seagulls look to cash in, albeit with any move for the former Independiente del Valle man seemingly set to cost in the region of £60m-70m, according to recent reports.

Howe’s own Gerrard

The promising talent been a real standout figure at the Amex since his return from a loan stint in Belgium at the start of the year, with the youngster having initially arrived on the south coast for a bargain fee of just £4.5m back in February 2021.

The current campaign has proven particularly fruitful for the highly-rated “jewel” – as described by Ecuadorian historian Enrico Castro-Montes – as he currently ranks sixth in the division for tackles made (43), having started all 14 games for Roberto De Zerbi’s side so far this season.

The 28-cap gem also notably impressed for his country at the World Cup in recent weeks, having featured in all three groups for the South American nation in Qatar, scoring once in the eventual defeat to Senegal, while also further showcasing his ball-winning prowess by averaging two tackles per game.

Such is Caicedo’s undoubted quality he has even previously been likened to Premier League legend Steven Gerrard in the past by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who categorised the young playmaker as a “box-to-box” midfielder.

That comparison is also no doubt warranted by the Brighton man’s keen eye for a goal, having notably netted a spectacular long-range effort in the win over Manchester United at the tail-end of last season.

Such a moment of magic was also seemingly Gerrard’s trademark – be it the Englishman’s piledriver against Olympiakos or his outrageous FA Cup final strike against West Ham United – during what was a lengthy career at the elite level for both club and country, having scored 186 goals and registered 153 assists in 710 games for the Anfield outfit.

The now-retired maestro – who also scored 21 goals in 113 games at international level – is rightly regarded as one of the finest of his generation in his position, having notably been dubbed “the best midfielder the Premier League has ever seen”, according to pundit Jamie O’Hara.

To be compared to such a talent is high praise indeed as far as Caicedo is concerned, with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe likely to relish having a Gerrard-esque figure in his midfield ranks.

Pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to rumours linking Leeds United with a move for Newcastle United forward Chris Wood.

The Lowdown: Wood reunion?

The Whites appear to be on the hunt for a new forward in January and are thought to be plotting a move for Wood. Reports have suggested that the Leeds hierarchy are eying an alternative to Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford, and a loan swoop for the Newcastle marksman could be Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta’s solution.

The 30-year-old, who netted 44 times in 88 appearances at Elland Road, appears to have fallen out of favour at St. James’ Park, starting just twice in the Premier League this season.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Talking to Football Insider regarding a possible Elland Road return for Wood, Hutton, who now contributes for the BBC, believes the striker ‘would fit at Leeds’ but would need to weigh up a move back to Yorkshire.

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“Of course it is always going to be difficult.

“He is at a club now that is thriving. They are going places but you need to weigh that up. Is he going to be a regular starter? For me, no.

“That is no disrespect to him it is just how they are going at this moment in time. They are trying to get top four, go for league titles, get in the Champions League. So they are looking for a different type of player.

“Leeds are a big club with a big following but you do not want to fight relegation either. I think he would fit at Leeds but at this moment in time I am not sure what Leeds are capable of.

“Are they capable of being a mid-table team or are they going to be fighting relegation year-in year-out so he will have to weigh that up.”

The Verdict: Why not…

Bringing in an experienced forward like Wood could prove to be a shrewd move by Leeds officials and one that may take them away from trouble during the second half of the season.

New Zealand’s all-time record goalscorer knows where the net is at Elland Road, and a contribution of even five to ten goals could see Jesse Marsch’s side pick up some valuable points.

He may also give Marsch another way of playing in attack and an aerial threat in both boxes, so a loan swoop could be one to keep an eye on heading into 2023.

Glasgow Rangers boss Michael Beale may only be a matter of weeks into the job at Ibrox although the Englishman already appears keen to put his stamp on things, with the 42-year-old seemingly making plans for the long-term at present.

That has been evidenced by the fact that the up-and-coming manager is believed to be overseeing a new contract for 18-year-old starlet, Leon King, with The Athletic reporting that the Rangers centre-back is close to sealing a four-year deal to keep him in Glasgow for the foreseeable future.

The academy graduate has begun to establish himself in the first team this season after making 11 Scottish Premiership appearances and also featuring in all six Champions League group stage games, with such an impact having even sparked reported interest from Europe’s top clubs.

This latest news that a contract extension is on the cards should well ease those fears over a departure, with it looking likely that King will now remain with the Light Blues over the next few years.

Having already had 18 months to run on his existing deal at the club, however, there is perhaps less urgency to get the defender tied down to a new deal compared to other members of the squad, with the future of Malik Tillman potentially a more pressing issue as far as Beale is concerned.

The United States international joined the Old Firm outfit on a season-long loan deal from Bayern Munich over the summer, although it remains to be seen if the Gers will trigger the buy option included as part of that switch for a fee of around €7m (£6m).

Beale himself has only recently outlined his desire to get that permanent agreement wrapped up, with the former Queen’s Park Rangers boss having stated:

“We’re lucky to have him playing here in Scotland. He’s just 20 and I think he’s got a huge future in front of him – hopefully for this football club.

“It’s a pretty obvious one. I really like Malik. He is a fantastic talent. He wants to play slightly higher. We’re going to give him the freedom to run out of that midfield and get into the positions he was in today.

“You can see what he could grow into. He’s the exact type of player that we want at this football club. I don’t know the exact fee, I don’t know where we’re going to go and get it from, but if we can do it, I would definitely sign Malik Tillman, yes.”

While the 20-year-old has faced criticism for his form so far this term – having been dubbed a “frustrating figure” by pundit Neil McCann – the American gem has received notable backing from those at the club, with teammate John Lundstram dubbing him “one of the best young talents I have seen”.

That quality has been evident in flashes during his time in Glasgow thus far, with the four-cap dynamo having scored four goals and provided three assists in 23 games this term, including five goal contributions in only 13 league outings.

There may be a need to find greater consistency in his game, although that will likely come with the German-born star earning a more prominent role in the side over an extended period, something which would well be aided if his future is secured beyond the end of this season.

With Beale’s recent praise suggesting that the playmaker could have a big part to play in the remainder of the campaign, it could well be a real masterstroke to get a permanent move wrapped sooner rather than later, helping to end any speculation as the season progresses.

Frank Lampard has suggested that Tom Cannon, Isaac Price and Stanley Mills could all be involved for Everton in their Boxing Day clash at home to Wolves.

The Lowdown: Premier League returns

After the break for the World Cup in Qatar, the Premier League returns today with the first round of festive domestic fixtures.

The Goodison Park outfit are at home to bottom-of-the-table Wolves under new manager Julen Lopetegui, with Lampard under pressure to get his team off to a good post-World Cup start as they sit just outside the relegation zone themselves.

The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate are reportedly fitness doubts for the game, while both James Garner and Andros Townsend have been ruled out with longer-term injuries and Conor Coady is ineligible to face his parent club.

The Latest: Youngsters involved?

Speaking before the match (via Liverpool Echo), Lampard has claimed that Cannon, Price and Mills could all be on the bench for Everton and be involved against Wolves, having impressed during their mid-season tour of Australia when the squad were trying to build up match fitness.

When asked about the trio’s possible involvement today, the Toffees manager said: “Without a doubt. They will have to continue and keep working and improving and not get disheartened if the opportunity doesn’t come as they see it after Australia and going forward. The more they train and the better they train then they will get opportunities.

“Isaac was probably our best player, he had a fantastic two games in Australia, Tommy Cannon has been playing regularly well, scoring and training with us. They have both got a lot to improve and learn in their game, that is absolutely normal, but at the minute they are part of the first team squad rather than part of the U21s that come up to us when we need them – with Stanley Mills as well.

“That can sometimes change as injured players return and stuff like that but at the minute they are training and they are training at a level that keeps the level high so they are definitely knocking on the door and possibly both – Isaac and Tommy and possibly Stan – could be on the bench on Boxing Day.”

The Verdict: Deserve their chance

Cannon, Price and Mills all deserve their chance in the Everton first team based on their performances in Australia and in training with the senior squad.

Cannon has been especially impressive for the under-21s this season, with 11 goals and three assists in 15 games so far, while the striker has also played twice under Lampard at senior level (Transfermarkt).

Price is also producing from central midfield, with four goals and two assists in 15 matches (Transfermarkt).

It will be interesting to see if the Everton manager decides to use any of those three from the bench as the Toffees take on Wolves this afternoon.

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Villarreal defender Alfonso Pedraza, with the Spaniard having previously enjoyed a brief stint at Elland Road.

What’s the word?

According to Football Espana, the Yorkshire side – as well as Serie A outfit Inter Milan – are keen on signing the 26-year-old in the New Year, with the Whites already having a connection with the player after signing him on loan back in 2017.

The report suggests that the Premier League side could well receive encouragement in their bid to land the full-back as the player is said to be open to a departure, while the LaLiga club could also be willing to sanction a sale.

A new left-back does appear to be on the agenda for sporting director Victor Orta, with recent reports having also claimed that Philadephia Union gem Kai Wagner is also a target for the club.

Marsch’s own Perisic

Despite having hardly pulled up any trees during his brief time in England – scoring once in just 14 appearances – Pedraza has certainly gone on to impress since then, with his total tally for the Yellow Submarine now standing at 11 goals and 18 assists in 147 games across all fronts.

The 6-foot ace was particularly impressive under Unai Emery last term after scoring four goals and registering five assists in 28 league outings from his defensive berth, having also been part of the side that reached the last four of the Champions League.

The £65k-per-week maestro – who has chipped in with three goal involvements in 12 appearances for the Yellow Submarine this season – will no doubt have caught the eye of Orta and co as a result of his breathtaking speed, having previously been compared to Wales icon Gareth Bale for that running power in the past.

The highly-rated “machine” – as described by Simon Harrison – would surely add notable quality to Jesse Marsch’s ranks at Elland Road, with that emphasised by the fact that the former Real Betis loanee shares a number of stylistic and statistical similarities to Tottenham Hotspur’s Ivan Perisic, as per FBref.

That likeness is evidenced by the fact that not only do the two men typically operate on the left flank, but they are also similar in their desire to impact play in the final third, with Pedraza ranking in the top 2% in Europe among those in his position for touches in the attacking penalty area, while Perisic ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

That attacking threat is also illustrated by the fact that the later man ranks in the top 10% for non-penalty goals, while the Villarreal star ranks in the top 3% for the same metric, proving himself something of a weapon from open play.

Such a comparison is noteworthy as a result of the impact that the Spurs man has made in the Premier League in recent months, with the veteran Croatian having settled swiftly in Antonio Conte’s side, recording an impressive tally of seven assists in just 22 games for the club to date.

To think that Leeds could land their own version of the 33-year-old in the form of Pedraza is no doubt an intriguing prospect for Orta and co, with the hope being that the former Spain U21 international can seal a return to Elland Road in the near future.