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The new manager of Glasgow Rangers faces an arduous task ahead of him during the second half of the season.

The Ibrox side are currently nine points adrift of Celtic in the Premiership title race with the team devoid of confidence and ideas, it will be a brave man who fancies the challenge of winning title number 56 this season.

Ross Wilson has earmarked former Rangers first-team coach Mick Beale as the primary target and this would be a wise move, considering he knows the club and the majority of the players rather well.

The 42-year-old will have to work his magic in order to get a tune out of Alfredo Morelos – scorer of just three goals this season – and Ryan Kent, who has largely disappointed.

Beale must put his main focus on reviving the fortunes of Ridvan Yilmaz however, as the young Turkish left-back faltered under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The £12k-per-week player was signed for £5m from Besiktas in the summer and there were high hopes he would displace Borna Barisic and become a mainstay in the starting XI. It hasn’t quite worked out like that so far.

Wilson was full of praise for the youngster, dubbing him “high quality” but he has yet to show this during his brief spell in Glasgow.

Under the Dutchman, Yilmaz made just seven appearances in all competitions, a grand total of 376 minutes and although he has shown a few glimpses of his talent, the lack of game time has held back his progress.

Beale of course knows Barisic well from his previous spell at Rangers, and while the Croatian offers an excellent attacking threat, defensively, he can be very hit or miss and this could play on his mind when deciding who will be the starting left-back going forward.

Yilmaz has been linked with a January move away from Ibrox, however, he has every intention of remaining at the club for the long term, saying: “I want to play in the top leagues in Europe until the age of 28 or 29 at least and prove myself. So I have no intention of returning to Turkish football right now.”

A new manager might just give the Turkish international a boost and he could certainly thrive under Beale if he were appointed.

Sunderland have received a ‘major boost’ with the news that centre-back Aji Alese is back from injury this weekend, following an update from James Hunter.

The Lowdown: Sunderland back in action

The Black Cats haven’t played since the 2-1 victory at Birmingham City on November 11, with the World Cup in Qatar prompting a hiatus in the club season.

Sunderland are back in action on Saturday as they host Millwall in what is the only Championship fixture of the day.

Alese hasn’t been in action since the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers in October because of a foot issue, but he is on course to return this weekend.

The Latest: Hunter drops Alese update

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for Chronicle Live, Hunter revealed that the 21-year-old is back fit again and could feature against Millwall tomorrow.

He tweeted:

“‘Monster’ Aji Alese’s return is a major boost for #safc”

The Verdict: Massive boost for Black Cats

This is an undoubted boost for Sunderland, with Alese such an important presence already despite his tender years, being hailed as a ‘seriously good’ player by podcaster Tom Edwards during his time at West Ham.

The Englishman has done well in his 10 appearances for the Black Cats since joining permanently in the summer, averaging 2.7 clearances and 1.8 tackles per game in the league this season. Those returns see him rank among the top five for both metrics at the Stadium of Light.

Whether or not Tony Mowbray throws Alese straight into the starting line-up on Saturday remains to be seen, but the probability that the whole squad could be lacking some rhythm after so long without playing makes it less of a risk than it would in the thick of a hectic fixture schedule.

Leeds United have been dealt a fresh setback on their injury-prone star striker…

What’s the latest?

As per The Athletic, Patrick Bamford was expected to undergo “minor surgery” on a groin issue.

Whilst he is likely to return to contention in just two weeks, the procedure underpins yet another setback for someone who has long suffered from various problems.

LeedsLive then offered some fresh information on the situation, as they claimed the surgery had gone well and the 29-year-old will rehabilitate back at Thorp Arch until his reported return at the end of the month.

Marsch will be worried

Although this seems to only be a small issue that needed to be sorted, it marks yet another niggle for Bamford to worry about.

Since his sensational couple of seasons that earned promotion from the Championship and a ninth-place finish in the Premier League, the English marksman has struggled for fitness.

He has featured just 19 times across the last season and a half, and this season has not completed 90 minutes of a competitive game since September 2021.

What makes his troubles so frustrating is just how electric and important he became for the Whites in those two aforementioned seasons.

During the former, he bagged 16 times and assisted four as his side cruised to the title.

Many questions would then arise over his ability to perform in England’s top flight, which he would quickly brush aside as he went one further on his previous tally by scoring 17 and assisting eight.

Since then, however, Marcelo Bielsa was dismissed as Jesse Marsch led a desperate scramble for safety in his absence.

They would survive the drop by just three points but became reliant on the goals of Raphinha, who left in the summer.

Even when he threatened to return to fitness in January – to end the “nightmare” as Alex McLeish dubbed it – he would just be struck straight back to the treatment table.

Despite Rodrigo somewhat stepping up with nine goals this season, Marsch and co would surely still would love to have their £35k-per-week star man up front and back in action.

As mentioned above, although this is a small procedure, it could be a sign that this season threatens to be another nightmarish and injury-ravaged one.

That will surely worry Marsch once more.

Chelsea are poised to return for a touted summer target in the forthcoming transfer window, providing some desired relief in the midst of a flagging campaign. 

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has tweeted that the Blues are said to rekindle their interest in teenage Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

His tweet read: “Romeo #Lavia , successor to Ngolo #Kante ? Still in the sights of #ChelseaFC, the midfielder of #SouthamptonFC is still one of the players targeted by the Blues as a defensive midfielder. To be continued.”

With Chelsea staking an audacious £50m proposal to Saints in the dying embers of the summer transfer window, despite the starlet only joining from Manchester City in a deal rising to £15m in July, the desire to secure their man appears unflinching, and the club will continue to pursue. 

Kante heir

Lavia may only be 18 years old, but he is already exhibiting maturity beyond his years and a glimpse of a future littered in success and accolades. 

Having made the switch from Manchester to Southampton, with Pep Guardiola’s team begrudgingly parting with the player to free up space for the £45m signing of Kalvin Phillips, there were high hopes down in Hampshire that their new wonderkid would flourish.

The precocious talent entered the first-team reckoning in an instant, starting Saints’ opening five fixtures of the season before unfortunately picking up a hamstring injury that ruled him out of contention for nine matches. 

Returning to make two appearances before the midseason break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Chelsea have seemingly seen enough, and will observe his progress at the latter stage of December with vested interest as an offer lies in the pipeline. 

During his time on the pitch, Lavia took to the relentless pace of the Premier League like a duck to water, casting the weighted cloak of inexperience aside and excelling among his teammates. 

As per Sofascore, the former Sky Blue prodigy has recorded an average rating of 6.86 this term, ranking him fifth in the entire Saints squad – and it’s worth noting his two lowest ratings arrived in the matches following his return from injury.

Recording a pass accuracy of 88%, while also making 1.7 interceptions and 1.6 tackles, Lavia has been a ubiquitous force in the Southampton centre, winning 53% of his total duels.

The touted teen also scored a resounding strike against Chelsea in the early stages of the campaign, perhaps fuelling the club’s fire in succeeding in their efforts to lure him to Stamford Bridge. 

With Kante’s contract indeed expiring in the summer, along with play-making whiz Jorginho, Blues boss Graham Potter will understand the importance of securing a future for the club that will guarantee success.

Man City were reluctant to let Lavia leave, with correspondent Jonathan Smith calling him “outstanding”, and some at the club believed he would eventually work his way into the first-team, but the speed of his burgeoning rise has been nothing short of spectacular.

Journalist Alfie House was also markedly impressed with the young ace, calling him a “technically excellent footballer who sets the tempo” for his team.

Chelsea believe they have found the heir to the eminent Kante’s throne in the midfield, and despite his tender years he could be nurtured at Stamford Bridge and given a platform to shine, an ascension to prominence on the biggest stage. 

Everton are reportedly looking to terminate Jarrad Branthwaite’s loan deal at PSV Eindhoven. 

The Lowdown: Branthwaite’s move to PSV

Back in July, the Toffees defender joined the Dutch club on a season-long loan deal.

Since then, the Englishman has made 11 senior appearances for PSV across all competitions but has only started four games.

But despite being only a few months into his season-long loan spell, it appears that the defender could be set to see his time in the Netherlands come to an early end.

The Latest: Everton to terminate Branthwaite loan

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Everton have spoken to PSV about terminating Branthwaite’s loan deal in January after having discussions behind the scenes.

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The report adds that no decision has yet been made and there is still a possibility that Branthwaite could stay on at PSV for the rest of the season, as the Dutch club have increasingly warmed to the centre-back following some early struggles.

The Verdict: An extra option for Lampard

Despite his lack of regular playing time in the Eredivisie, the 20-year-old has still been able to show what he’s capable of on the pitch.

For example, in addition to having the highest passing accuracy percentage (89.6%) at the club, Branthwaite has also racked up the third-highest number of clearances (24) at PSV.

In terms of a potential early return to Everton, the fact that Frank Lampard already has the likes of Conor Coady, James Tarkowski, Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate as his disposal makes it hard to see why he would want Branthwaite back in the mix, even if Mina leaves the club.

In our view, if the defender is likely to be getting more time on the pitch at PSV, Everton should keep him where he is and let him continue his development.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou won’t be happy with his side conceding four goals against Rennes, according to former Scottish Premiership professional Tam McManus.

The Lowdown: Seven-goal thriller

The Hoops have been out in Portugal for their mid-season training camp during the break but recently suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Bruno Genesio’s team.

The Ligue 1 outfit had a 4-1 lead in what was a total defensive meltdown from the Hoops, before the Glasgow giants pulled it back to 4-3 thanks to goals from Matt O’Riley and Kyogo.

The Latest: McManus’ comments

Speaking to Football Insider, McManus, however, claimed that Celtic were exposed at the back and suggested that they have to be careful of the same not happening moving forward.

“If you watch the way Celtic play, there is always a danger of that [conceding multiple goals].

“Rennes are a good side, I think Celtic played them not that long ago in the Europa League actually. These games are all about getting minutes into the players.

“That being said, I don’t think Ange will be happy with that. They were 4-1 down at one point and that was a pretty strong Celtic side.

“They fought back and got it to 4-3 at half time. That’s what a high press will give you, lots of goals. The big issue was when they come up against quality sides who know how to unpick a press, they will concede a lot of chances.

“They are going to get exposed. The only team up here who might be able to do that is possibly Rangers, so it doesn’t happen too often.”

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The Verdict: No need to panic

Celtic obviously won’t want to let in four goals on a consistent basis against anyone, but the fact that Rennes are a better opposition than they normally face, there’s no need to panic.

Postecoglou’s squad are already nine points clear of their rivals at the top of the table and it would take a huge dip in form and results to stop them from securing their second consecutive title come the end of the season.

The Bhoys return to action this weekend when they visit Aberdeen, and the boss will be hoping his side can continue where they left off before the break.

Leeds United’s rumours linking them with Ben Brereton-Diaz persist, with a respected journalist expecting a patient approach to the deal.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, who has suggested him as a target following reports in the past linking Victor Orta with a move.

The journalist would issue the following update, with his own input on when he thinks the Chilean might move, to GIVEMESPORT: “There are others as well that Leeds United are looking at, and I think that one of them is still going to be Ben Brereton Diaz who’s at Blackburn.

“And Brereton Diaz has already vowed to stay at the club until next summer, so they might have to play a longer game on that one. But we wait and see whether or not Leeds can influence that situation in any way shape or form.”

“Phenomenal” deal

Boasting plenty of goals for their place in the division, having scored 22 times in just 14 games, it would make sense for the Whites to focus on solidity rather than added goals.

Despite this, it seems Jesse Marsch clearly cannot resist an opportunity to bolster his attack, with Ben Brereton-Diaz proving an extraordinary option for a Premier League club willing to take the risk.

The 23-year-old has already scored nine times this season in the Championship, assisting a further three in just 24 games.

He seems poised to match his equally impressive tally of 22 in the league from last campaign.

As such, Brereton-Diaz has more than earned the label of a “dangerous finisher” that Dean Smith branded him.

Throughout his short career, he already has 52 goals to his name, which he pairs with a further 22 assists. That seems set to expand exponentially with each passing season given his blistering form following his switch in nationality.

Boasting the qualities to be a target man or a striker who comes to feet, it seems like given the continued absence of Patrick Bamford, this could be his ideal replacement.

With goals hardly at a premium at Elland Road, to sign the man dubbed a “phenomenal player” by football scout Ron Dor could remain a stroke of genius despite other urgencies.

Phil Hay revealed earlier today that Jesse Marsch would be prioritising a left back and a forward for the coming windows, and this lethal marksman could fit the bill perfectly for the latter spot.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could be set to face somewhat of a conundrum over the next few months with regard to his midfield options.

James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita are all out of contract at the end of the season, while Jordan Henderson and Thiago are all on the wrong side of 30, meaning Klopp will need to start planning ahead for the future as soon as possible.

Keita has played just three times this season having missed most of the first part of the campaign through injury, but Klopp could ruthlessly ditch the midfielder by making a move for a young Ecuadorian talent that is on everyone’s lips at the minute…

Liverpool should sign Caicedo

The Reds have been interested in the Brighton and Hove Albion sensation for a few months now and although any potential move could cost the club a staggering £85m, it could well be a shrewd investment.

It’s no secret the Liverpool midfield needs to be rejuvenated and Caicedo could become an excellent addition to the side while giving Klopp the licence to bin Keita in the process.

The 21-year-old has been in impressive form this season for Brighton, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.09/10, while making 1.0 key passes, averaging 70.9 touches, and winning 3.0 tackles per game in the Premier League.

These performances suggest that his all-round ability could allow him to slot into Klopp’s midfield with ease, able to contribute at both ends of the pitch to excellent effect.

Ecuadorian football historian Enrico Castro-Montes sang Caicedo’s praises while speaking to Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness), saying:

“In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.”

After announcing the signing of Cody Gakpo earlier this week, Klopp might not be looking at spending £85m for Caicedo in January, however, with the German set to face a potential crisis come the summer, a move next month for the youngster might not be such a bad idea.

Rangers’ Ryan Kent will sign a new contract and stay at Ibrox, according to Barry Ferguson.

The Lowdown: Kent’s future

Kent’s future at Rangers is currently up in the air, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The Englishman arrived in Glasgow originally back in 2018 on a season-long loan from Liverpool before the Gers made his stay permanent in a £7.5m deal.

He’s since gone on to play SPFL title, Scottish Cup and a Europa League final.

The Latest: Ferguson’s comments

Following Kent’s equalising goal against Celtic on Monday, Ferguson said on The Go Radio Football Show that he believes the relationship with Michael Beale will see him sign a new contract.

He said: “I think he will sign a new deal. I think he looked really happy.

“Look, before, his form wasn’t great, but one thing I will say about Ryan Kent, was he always gave 100%.

“I thought today he had another real good game, and listen, his finish was brilliant to watch.

“I do believe that Ryan Kent is in a happy place, him and Michael Beale go back a long way, so that’s the reason why I think that you could see Ryan Kent signing a new contract.”

The Verdict: Vital for Rangers

There is set to be huge uncertainty over the Rangers squad heading into next season as Beale looks to build his side amid the potential departures of key players.

According to Transfermarkt, Kent is the Gers’ eighth-highest purchase and the only one in the top 17 that was signed after 2006, such has become the Ibrox outfit’s limitations in the transfer window.

Therefore, Kent leaving for nothing would be a huge blow to Rangers, not only when considering his form under his old coach, but that it would leave it upon Ross Wilson to deliver a bargain replacement who would have the same impact.

The second half of the season will be key in his future, and if the 26-year-old – dubbed as “incredible” by The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell – continues his form at the club, the Gers’ task of tying him down will become a lot easier.

Montpellier striker Elye Wahi is reportedly ‘very popular’ at Arsenal, and an inquiry has already been made over his availability.

The Lowdown: Attackers wanted

The Gunners are reportedly in talks with both Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix over potential moves to the Emirates Stadium, as they look for attacking reinforcements to help their Premier League title charge.

They also have Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson currently out injured at the moment, and so will need extra cover in the final third in case any more injuries crop up.

The Latest: Wahi ‘very popular’

Taking to Twitter, journalist Sebastien Denis has revealed that Wahi is also ‘very popular’ in North London, and Mikel Arteta’s side have been ‘following’ him for ‘several months’:

“Info: Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, who breaks all precocity records behind Mbappe in Ligue 1, is very popular with Arsenal, which has been following the player for several months.”

In his corresponding article for Foot Mercato, he adds that Arsenal have inquired about Wahi, who scored his 20th Ligue 1 goal recently, becoming the second player to score 20 goals in the division before his 20th birthday in the last 40 years, with PSG and France superstar Kylian Mbappe becoming the first.

He is already estimated to be worth more than €30m (£26.4m), and the Gunners will have to figure out whether they are willing to match that price.

The Verdict: Why not?

If the North Londoners sign Mudryk or Felix, then there is no reason for them not to go for Wahi as well in this window.

Lauded as a ‘powerful, athletic and fast player with a range of dribbling skills’ by ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo, he now boasts seven goals this season having only recently turned 20, and could be another young player that Arteta moulds into a future superstar.

Nonetheless, given the injuries in attacking areas, Arsenal will need all of the help that they can get if they are to secure their first Premier League title since moving to the Emirates Stadium.