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An update has emerged on Rangers and their interest in bringing a new forward to Ibrox in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to outlet Foot News, citing their sources in Scotland, Rangers are plotting a bid to sign winger Theo Bongonda ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that Genk would be willing to sell him for a fee in the region of €7m (£6m) – the price they paid to sign him from Zulte-Waregem in 2019.

It is also stated that the attacker is attracting interest from the UAE but would prefer to join a club playing European football.

Forget about Joe Aribo

By securing a deal to sign the Pro League forward, Ross Wilson can land the dream replacement for Joe Aribo at Ibrox. The Nigeria international is reportedly closing in on a £10m move to Premier League side Southampton and the Gers can bring in Bongonda with £4m to spare.

In the Premiership last season, the ex-Charlton man produced eight goals and five assists – playing in a number 10 role and out wide at times for Steven Gerrard and then Gio van Bronckhorst. This came after he managed seven goals and four assists in the Scottish top-flight in 2020/21.

He is a proven performer for the Gers in the final third and will leave a huge hole in the squad if and when his move to Southampton is confirmed.

However, Rangers fans may quickly forget about the 25-year-old if the club can secure Bongonda’s services as he has the potential to be a better player for the club.

The Genk attacker, who can play on both flanks, can come in and be Aribo’s replacement on the right of van Bronckhorst’s front three and has been in fantastic form in recent seasons in Belgium.

In the 2021/22 campaign, he found the back of the net 12 times and set up two goals – creating seven big chances – after scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists – creating ten big chances – in the previous season.

This means that, in the last two league campaigns, the wing wizard has been directly involved in 14 goals more for Genk than Aribo has been for Rangers.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to come in and make a bigger impact in the final third and make Light Blues fans forget all about the Nigerian maestro by being a dream replacement for him…

AND in other news, Rangers can land Jack 2.0 by signing £20m gem who “dominates”, he’s “one of the best”…

Newcastle United are reportedly considering an approach to sign Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, according to a report from the Mail Online.

The lowdown: Interest so far

The Magpies have already been linked with multiple wingers this summer, including Bayer Leverkusen sensation Moussa Diaby and Everton starlet Anthony Gordon.

Former England youth international Harrison has also been strongly indexed with a move to the St James’ Park outfit – Luke Edwards said don’t rule it out – as Eddie Howe certainly seems intent on strengthening the wide areas in the squad.

Now, yet more claims have now emerged suggesting that the Tynesiders could make an attempt to land the 25-year-old during the ongoing transfer window…

The latest: £20m bid ready

As per the Mail Online report, Newcastle are believed to be weighing a bid and ‘willing to offer around £20million’ for the twice-capped England Under 21 ace.

It’s claimed however that the North East club’s offer wouldn’t meet the demands from Leeds and the Yorkshire outfit will ‘hold out for a bigger fee’ for their versatile midfielder.

The report also states that Harrison – who was hailed as ‘unplayable’ by football writer Adonis Storr following a impressive display against Bristol City in February 2020 – is ‘admired by Howe for his unwavering ‘work ethic’.

The verdict: Smart signing

Valued at £16.2million and under contract at Elland Road until 2024 (Transfermarkt), signing Harrison for anything close to the mooted fee would be an example of yet another astute piece of business from PIF during their time as Toon owners.

Albeit predominantly operating as a left winger – the same position as Allan Saint-Maximin – the former Manchester City prospect can also play on the opposite side as well as in deeper and central roles – highlighting impressive versatility that would be a welcome addition to Howe’s ranks.

Last season, Harrison – who shares similar stylistic traits to Burnley gem Dwight McNeil, Crystal Palace star Jordan Ayew and previously linked Gordon (Fbref) –  scored ten times and provided two assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.

All told, this is a deal that would make an abundance of sense for Newcastle and certainly one Dan Ashworth should remain very attentive to the possibility of making a reality.

Newcastle United may be working on an ambitious deal that’s ‘yet to make the press’, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder.

The lowdown

Newcastle have made three additions to Eddie Howe’s squad so far this summer.

They’ve made Matt Targett’s loan move from Aston Villa permanent, signed goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley and, perhaps most notably, brought in centre-back Sven Botman from Lille.

That’s a total spend of £59.4million, and they still have around three weeks before their Premier League season opener against Nottingham Forest, and six until the transfer window closes.

The latest

In a Q&A, a supporter asked Ryder if any further incoming deals were at an advanced stage.

He says that all Newcastle’s negotiations he knows of are ‘active’ without being in the ‘concluding’ phase at the moment.

Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak and Chelsea frontman Armando Broja are named as players ‘still in with a shout of joining Newcastle’ before September.

But, ‘like any club with ambition’, Newcastle will have targets that aren’t yet in the public domain.

And Ryder believes that ‘one or two big moves’ in the upper echelons of the Premier League could have ‘a knock-on effect’ for the Magpies’ business.

The verdict

It was previously reported that Newcastle would have somewhere between £60million and £80million to spend on new players this summer.

That would leave them with only £20.6million remaining at a maximum, but it’s worth noting that budget can theoretically be boosted by player sales.

Newcastle have only negotiated one permanent exit so far this summer, with Freddie Woodman joining Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.

Isaac Hayden, Jeff Hendrick and Ciaran Clark have all left on initial loan deals.

So perhaps the focus for now might be generating funds by selling unwanted squad players, and inflating Howe’s spending power.

Tottenham Hotspur could target Marc Guehi in the future after an interesting transfer claim emerged this week…

What’s the word?

According to the ever-reliable Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic, Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici is a big fan of the Crystal Palace centre-back.

“So Guehi they really like. Paratici definitely really likes Marc Guehi,” the journalist revealed during a recent appearance on The Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.

“There is a guy that is young, English, homegrown, plays for England and he can play along the backline. He’s a fantastic player and there’s a lot of upside to him.”

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Pitt-Brooke also suggested that the Eagles won’t get pushed around to sell him as they have no need to with the England international under contract for another four years but it could be a potential signing to look out for in the next couple of windows and beyond.

Guehi would be colossal for Spurs

The Lilywhites have bolstered Antonio Conte’s squad with a trio of defensive additions, including that of Clement Lenglet, who has joined on a season-long loan from FC Barcelona.

He becomes the only left-footed central defender at the club, so you can see why the Italian wanted a signing there. But they continue to be linked to other options, ranging from Pau Torres of Villarreal to RB Leipzig gem Josko Gvardiol.

Although Spurs have another problem brewing at Hotspur Way and that’s with their homegrown quota, something that Guehi would help fix.

The likes of Japhet Tanganga and Harry Winks are expected to leave the club before deadline day on September 1st and that would mean that Conte is a further two players short when it comes to registering English talent.

Guehi, who came through the system at Chelsea, would be a like-for-like replacement in the registration list to either of the departing duo. His experience and performances for Palace also highlight why he’d be a solid signing.

Only three players registered a better WhoScored rating over at Selhurst Park, which suggests that Guehi was a mark of consistency under Patrick Vieira.

He also registered 1.62 interceptions, and 1.28 blocks per 90, via FBref, who have compared his statistical profile to that of Torres and even Leonardo Bonucci – a stalwart of Juventus and the Italian national team and someone that Conte has managed before.

Guehi’s former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik once dubbed the 6-foot colossus an “absolute tank” and claimed that he was “massive,” only adding to the reasons why Spurs should make their move.

The Englishman is currently valued at a whopping €70m (£60m) by CIES Football Observatory, who assess the transfer value of professional footballers on a scientific basis, so it’s clear that he wouldn’t come cheap but then again, proven homegrown Premier League players never do.

Whether it be this summer or next, the north Londoners must put Guehi high on their wishlist as he would be quite the coup indeed.

AND in other news, Paratici could seal bargain 7th signing in “special” dynamo, won’t cost Spurs a penny…

Manchester United are keeping tabs on Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko, according to reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano. 

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

Signed from Slovenian outfit Domzale in 2019, he had a spell on loan at FC Liefering, scoring 22 times in 44 appearances before returning to Salzburg.

The 19-year-old became a fully-fledged Slovenia international in May 2021, having obliterated the youth scene with 13 goals in 24 outings, and he has also risen through the domestic ranks in Austria with apparent ease.

Previously courted by the likes of Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham, it now seems as though the Red Devils are also paying close attention to Sesko…

The latest: Romano shares Sesko news

Taking to Twitter, transfer expert Romano has claimed that Manchester United have ‘monitored’ the 13-cap teenage sensation.

He stated: “Manchester United are well informed on Salzburg talent Benjamin Šeško. He’s one of the players monitored, considered ‘really talented’ – but it’s not imminent or advanced deal as of now.

“Man Utd are aware of Šeško as other clubs are informed too, including Newcastle.”

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The verdict: Immense potential

Already ranked ninth on Goal’s list of the 50 best wonderkids in football and identified by Bayern Munich as a potential long-term successor for Robert Lewandowski, the sky truly is the limit for the giant Sesko, who was given a glowing endorsement when being dubbed ‘Haaland-esque’ by Bundesliga analyst Abel Meszaros.

Last season, the 6 foot 4 frontman scored 10 times and provided seven assists in 36 appearances across all competitions. He has started the 2022/23 campaign in equally impressive stead, with an opening day goal against Austria Vienna in an 8.1-rated Sofascore display containing two key passes, one successful dribble and one assist.

Aside from his towering stature and a clinical eye for goal, Sesko has also previously clocked speeds akin to renowned jet-heeled Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe (36.1km/h) and appears to possess all of the attributes required to make the grade at the elite level.

Whether or not the teenager can translate his astonishing early form to operate in the Premier League will ultimately be the test, but with the Cristiano Ronaldo saga still unresolved, Erik ten Hag is in need of an additional striker in the Old Trafford squad. In that case, a move for the teenage starlet would certainly be a welcome one.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Nicola Zalewski to north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by CalcioMercatoWeb, who claim that, despite Fabio Paratici being linked with a move for the AS Roma midfielder in recent weeks, it is Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain who now appear to be leading the race for the 20-year-old’s signature – with both clubs said to have submitted an offer for the Poland international.

However, the report goes on to state that Jose Mourinho does not want to lose the services of the youngster ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 campaign, with the Serie A side reportedly not willing to accept an offer of under €50m (£42m) for the Italian-born starlet this summer.

Paratici must move

Considering just how much potential Zalewski appears to possess, it is not difficult to understand why all three of Chelsea, PSG and Spurs would be interested in signing the midfielder this summer, nor is it difficult to make the argument that Paratici simply must join the race for the 20-year-old’s signature by launching a move of his own in the coming days.

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Indeed, over his seven appearances in Roma’s Europa Conference League campaign last time out, the £13m-rated talent highly impressed, providing two important assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 0.9 key passes, taking 0.6 shots and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

The £9k-per-week youngster who Antoni Partum dubbed the Giallorossi’s “greatest talent” also caught the eye when working back, making an average of 1.7 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and winning 4.1 duels per outing.

These returns saw the five-cap international average an extremely respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.85, ranking him as Mourinho’s 14th-best performer in competition – playing an active role in Roma lifting the inaugural Conference League trophy.

As such, while £42m is undoubtedly a great deal of money to spend on a player who has made just 26 senior appearances in his club career thus far, if his performances in Europe are anything to go by, it would appear an extremely wise move for Paratici to join Chelsea and PSG in pursuit of the 20-year-old this summer – as missing out on Zalewski could very quickly turn into a decision the sporting director lives to regret.

Rangers have not been shy when it comes to signing players from clubs south of the border in the past.

This latest summer transfer window has seen the Gers bring in players such as Ben Davies and Tom Lawrence from English clubs to help strengthen their squad.

Another player the Ibrox side secured from England is Scott Arfield, who made the move to Glasgow from Burnley back in the 2018 summer window.

With there still being some time left before deadline day arrives at the end of this latest transfer period, the Gers could use this time to secure a potential successor for the former Clarets star.

Earlier in the window, the club were mentioned with a potential move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks.

Hailed as a “perfect” player by former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, Winks could be a valuable asset for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

To compare the £91k-per-week Englishman with Arfield, according to SofaScore, the duo have an identical rating for their tactical ability as well as a similar rating for their defensive prowess, highlighting some similarities between the pair in the middle of the park.

By the same metric, Winks trumps the current Rangers midfielder in terms of his technical, creative and attacking ratings, which suggests that he would be more of a threat in front of goal than the Canadian.

Despite playing ten fewer league games than Arfield last season, the 26-year-old still managed to deliver more crosses and make more interceptions than the former Burnley figure.

Bearing in mind that the 33-year-old is one of the oldest figures in Rangers’ squad, the Spurs man may well be seen as a viable and suitable long-term replacement for the veteran at Ibrox.

Taking into account how the Englishman only started nine Premier League games for the north London club last season and was not included in the squad for their opening match of the season against Southampton yesterday, this suggests he could be surplus to requirements at the club and would be better off elsewhere. Indeed, reports of late suggest he is now expected to leave north London before September 1st.

With that in mind, a potential move to Ibrox where he can play regularly and fight for trophies at a big club would surely be a tempting prospect for him.

As a result, the Gers should certainly explore a move for the midfielder so they can tick off a long-term replacement for Arfield on their list.

Queens Park Rangers are ready to line up a move for Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling after giving up the chase to sign Millwall’s Danny McNamara, according to reports.

The Lowdown: McNamara bid rejected

McNamara has now entered the final year of his contract at the Den, with the Hoops initially hoping that they would be able to convince him to put pen to paper across the capital.

However, an offer from Michael Beale’s side for the 23-year-old was rejected by the Lions, who are believed to have made it clear that their man is not for sale.

Following a fresh update, it sounds like the Championship outfit have ended their pursuit of the Millwall ace and identified a new target who they feel could take on that right-back role…

The Latest: QPR plotting Sterling move

According to West London Sport, QPR are looking to ‘seek a deal’ to sign Sterling after acknowledging their McNamara rejection.

It’s reported that the 22-year-old could now ‘move to Loftus Road’ as a result, with the likely scenario being a ‘loan with a view to a permanent’ switch.

The source concludes that the defender is already ‘well known’ to Beale, having previously been a coach in Chelsea’s academy setup.

The Verdict: Cover for Kakay

Osman Kakay is Beale’s only current option in that right-back position so he desperately needs cover, and Sterling could be the perfect addition.

The Blues starlet, dubbed a ‘fantastic talent’ by former Chelsea U23s coach Adi Viveash, spent last season out on loan at Blackpool and was a standout performer at Bloomfield Road, averaging 1.8 clearances, 1.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per league game, via WhoScored.

With 24 appearances for the Tangerines under his belt, Sterling already has plenty of EFL experience and could be making a return to the second tier if he decides the next stage of his career belongs with the Rangers.

The Sun journalist Tom Barclay has issued a Southampton transfer update… 

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the reporter spoke about Liam Delap’s future at Manchester City amid talk of a potential move away.

He said: “I believe he hasn’t gone on loan yet or signed anywhere else. So that might be one they might try and revisit.

“But yeah, it’s got to be something that Southampton fans are worried about [needing a new striker] amongst a lot of things at the moment.”

It had previously been claimed that the Saints had made a bid for the player but City rejected it, with the Citizens only willing to loan him out.

Hasenhuttl needs him

The youngster has earned huge praise throughout his short career in Manchester, especially from Pep Guardiola, who labelled him a “typical British striker” with “special qualities”.

Having featured predominantly in the Premier League 2 last season he bagged eight goals in ten games for the U23 side, taking his overall career tally to 47 goals.

His proficiency in front of goal at youth level suggests he is ready for the step up, and with Southampton still desperate for a striker following the departure of Armando Broja back to Chelsea, it makes perfect sense.

Last season the Albania international scored six, but his physical presence up front was worth its weight in gold for the Saints.

Standing at 6 feet, Delap himself can certainly provide this for Hasenhuttl’s team whilst growing into the role.

The £8k-per-week “finisher” in the words of Guardiola, only featured once in the Premier League last season, however his 7.0 SofaScore rating suggests that he is more than capable of performing at this level.

He also featured in one Champions League game, suggesting that he would enter the St Mary’s Stadium with experience far beyond his years.

With Southampton’s incredible record for developing young talent, notably Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse, it should also tempt Delap to make the move himself, as he would certainly be afforded huge opportunities at the highest level.

Both club and player would benefit from this move, it is just whether the English forward is willing to take the plunge to leave his comfortable situation at the Premier League giants to ply his trade lower down the league.

Hasenhuttl is desperate for a striker, and he could be the answer to his prayers.

‘Aston Villa have approached Southampton’ over centre-back Jan Bednarek, according to Dan Sheldon and Gregg Evans of The Athletic. 

The lowdown

Villa may have been forced into the market for another central defender after learning that they would be without summer signing Diego Carlos for six months.

Carlos ruptured his achilles tendon on his home debut against Everton last weekend.

Bednarek, 26, has played 133 Premier League games for Southampton since he joined from Lech Poznan in 2017.

He seemingly features on a shortlist that also includes Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea.

The latest

Sheldon wrote on Twitter that Villa have established contact with the Saints ‘over a possible deal’ for Bednarek.

‘AVFC [are] keen to replace the injured Diego Carlos’ and crucially, Southampton are ‘open to selling the defender’.

He also notes that Bednarek isn’t their only option, with Villa ‘looking at other targets’ too.

The verdict

Bednarek isn’t necessarily someone who will make his presence felt in the middle third of the pitch through passing or ball-carrying, but he can make decisive contributions at either end.

He racks up a very high volume of defensive actions, ranking in the top 13 percentiles for aerial duels won, clearances, blocks and interceptions.

And he’s also a threat in the opposition penalty area, with his 0.13 non-penalty goals for 90 enough to place him in the 97th percentile (compared to fellow centre-backs).

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has called him ‘very aggressive’ in defensive duels but ‘calm’ in possession, and says ‘he’s a very good package as a centre-back’.

One player who might be able to endorse the Polish defender is Danny Ings, a former team-mate at Southampton.

Indeed, Bednarek says that he’s good ‘friends’ with the Villa striker, even after his move away.