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Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man so far this summer in an attempt to bolster his playing squad for the 2023/24 campaign.

The club have already confirmed deals for Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers, and Dujon Sterling to improve their options across the pitch after they failed to win a single trophy last season.

Lammers is the most recent arrival to date as the Light Blues confirmed the signing on a four-year deal from Serie A side Atalanta earlier this week.

However, Beale could make further improvements to his forward line as the Scottish giants have also been linked with a swoop for Hearts centre-forward Lawrence Shankland in recent weeks.

Would Lawrence Shankland be a good signing for Rangers?

The 27-year-old whiz has the potential to be a phenomenal addition to the squad in this summer's transfer window as his form in 2022/23 indicates that the deadly marksman could be an instant upgrade on Lammers in the number nine position.

Shankland is coming off the back of an incredible season in the Scottish Premiership and has proven himself to be a lethal player at that level.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.11 across 37 matches in the division and chipped in with 24 goals and four assists, whilst the former Dundee United ace also found the back of the net three times in eight European matches for his club.

The Scotland international, therefore, ended the campaign with 28 goals and four assists in 47 appearances in all competitions and his exceptional return in front of goal was far more impressive than what Lammers has displayed in recent seasons.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Dutchman played in 33 Serie A matches for Empoli and Sampdoria combined across two loan spells from Atalanta and plundered just two goals and two assists.

His poor form in Italy came after the 26-year-old forward managed one goal and zero assists in 15 outings in the Bundesliga on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt in the previous term, in which the misfiring attacker also scored once in seven Europa League clashes.

Lammers is, therefore, coming to Ibrox in terrible form in front of goal and it may take time for him to be able to rediscover his touch in the final third, if he ever does, and that is why bringing Shankland in could be an immediate upgrade as the Hearts sensation is full of confidence and in sublime form.

The £3k-per-week goal machine, who was once hailed as "clinical" by journalist Josh Bunting, is a proven Premiership performer who knows what it takes to be a consistent scorer in Scotland, which could allow him to hit the ground running and offer more than the ex-Atalanta dud straight away.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing La Liga starlet Aleix Garrido as the club prepares to introduce reinforcements ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Gunners enjoyed a successful season, finishing second in the Premier League and confirming their return to the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17.

With the transfer window officially opening on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta is due to have a busy summer, with the latest link potentially emerging as heir to an imminently departing star.

What’s the latest on Aleix Garrido to Arsenal?

Spanish publication Sport has claimed that Arsenal are showing an interest in Barcelona youngster Garrido.

As relayed by Sport Witness, the report claims that the north Londoners ‘pay attention’ to the 19-year-old, saying that several clubs have been informed of the benefits the player has, stating his ‘evolution and capacity for growth’.

Having signed a contract in April to keep him at Barcelona until 2025, it’s unlikely that the player will be available to buy this summer, though a loan could be suitable.

What could Aleix Garrido offer to Arsenal?

Making his senior debut in April against Elche, the teenager lived his childhood dream by playing nine minutes for his boyhood club at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

Rising through the ranks at the infamous La Masia academy, the Ripoll-born starlet has Barcelona’s DNA programmed into his style of play, seeing him hailed as a “wonderful talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

The youngster, who was described as being “on fire” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, recorded six assists in six games in the UEFA Youth League.

As written by journalist Tom Maston via GOAL, the Spaniard was described as a player whose ‘passing ability allows him to stand out as an elite talent’, highlighting an ability typical of central midfielders nurtured in La Masia.

For Arsenal, it’s an encouraging sign for the club to be mentioned alongside one of the Spanish champions’ best young talents in a player that could develop at the Emirates in a pending vacant role.

With Granit Xhaka almost certainly departing to the Bundesliga this summer, the Gunners will be down a midfielder, which could allow the talent of Garrido to flourish among some of the Premier League’s best prospects.

Swiss midfielder Xhaka had a solid final campaign in north London, scoring seven goals and recording seven assists in 37 Premier League appearances, via Sofascore, to assert himself as one of Arteta’s most trusted individuals.

There was a point in his Arsenal career that some couldn’t have imagined his departure to cause upset to so many after his fallout with the Emirates faithful back in 2019.

The 30-year-old has an established career behind him, and one that 19-year-old Garrido could dream of following in terms of the impact he’s made to the clubs he’s represented.

The young Spaniard could flourish in central midfield under the guidance of Arteta, who himself spent some time in Barcelona’s academy during the early days of his playing career.

In the past two seasons, Crystal Palace have built a solid foundation largely based upon the ever-present and reliable central defensive partnership of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi.

The Eagles kept nine clean sheets last year, as their solidity has been one of the principal reasons for the consolidation of their mid-table Premier League status.

However, the latter could be set for a departure after impressing since his £18m move to Selhurst Park, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool all circling around the Englishman.

The 22-year-old has built a formidable reputation as one of the league's most consistent assets, who since playing for Palace, has also made his England debut.

Guehi’s possible exit would open the door for a defender in South London and Perr Schurrs has been tipped to be his replacement.

What’s the latest on Perr Schurrs to Crystal Palace?

According to the Daily Mail, the Eagles have stepped up their interest in the Torino centre-back, who is also being keenly tracked by Napoli and Newcastle United.

Even if Guehi chooses to stay, Schuurs may still move to the Premier League to reinforce the club's backline.

Can Perr Schurrs replace Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace?

Across 30 Serie A outings this term, the Dutchman has been a commanding pillar of reliability and has averaged 3.2 clearances, 1.7 tackles and was only dribbled past 0.4 times per game, without committing any errors leading to shots or goals.

The former Ajax man has, therefore, performed tremendously within his club, managing the most tackles and clearances within the Torino squad, as per WhoScored.

Described as a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, the titan possesses all the attributes to replace Guehi, should he leave in the summer.

When comparing these two mercurial talents, the £29k-per-week titan has averaged more tackles per 90 (1.97 vs 1.41), clearances per 90 (3.95 vs 3.62) and aerials won per 90 (2.32 vs 1.46), to show that he has the physicality to fill Guehi’s shoes.

As well as this tenacity, Schuurs is also confident with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for pass completion, whilst Guehi only ranks in the highest 53%.

It is difficult to find a weakness in his game, and he looks perfectly suited to English football.

Having played in 73 of the Eagles’ 76 Premier League games since he arrived, the Cobham graduate would undeniably be a monumental loss for the club, but Schuurs’ profile, attributes and relatively spritely age means he is more than capable of filling his void should Steve Parish make a move.

Manchester United are one step away from signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to reports.

Is David de Gea leaving Man United?

The Red Devils could have a busy summer in the transfer window, with numerous incomings and outgoings seemingly on the table. Up to 13 players have been put up for sale ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, including Dean Henderson, who could complete a £15m permanent move to Nottingham Forest.

David de Gea’s future is also up in the air, with the Spaniard’s Old Trafford contract actually set to expire in a matter of days. Recent reports have suggested that De Gea actually signed a new United contract that would drastically cut his current £375,000-a-week salary, however, the Red Devils have since backed out of that deal and have made a new proposal with even lower wages.

As a result, the club appear to be on the hunt for a new first-choice ‘keeper, and it looks as if Onana is on course to move to Manchester with those at Old Trafford previously in pole position to secure his services.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Onana?

According to reports from Italy over the last 48 hours, Man United are one step away from signing Onana this summer, with Inter Milan identifying Yann Sommer, Keylor Navas and Hugo Lloris as potential replacements.

The Red Devils are expected to pay an initial €50m (£43m) fee for Onana, although a transfer will reportedly include bonuses as well.

Onana knows Ten Hag well from their time at Ajax, where the 27-year-old made 145 appearances under the Dutchman. Therefore, the United manager will know exactly what to expect from Onana, including his ability on the ball.

Mark Goldbridge described the shot-stopper as “box office to watch when he's got the ball under pressure”, whereas Pep Guardiola also hailed Onana’s ability on the ball following the Champions League final.

“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

With a move seemingly close, it looks as if Onana could come in and become first-choice under Ten Hag, and it will be interesting to see if De Gea’s future finally gets resolved before the end of the month.

Manchester United have not accepted "a more flexible offer" from Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS, and any potential deal that sees the Glazer maintain their position at United would need the board's support, claims journalist Ben Jacobs.

Manchester takeover news – What's the latest?

Another week passes, and yet the potential sale of one of the biggest sports teams in the world still seems no closer than it did a few weeks ago.

It has been seven months since the Glazers first announced they were looking for outside investment for the club, news that was celebrated almost like a title win by many fans of the club who have long opposed the American families' ownership of their football club.

Yet, over half a year later, they are still firmly in control.

There have been three rounds of bidding for the Red Devils, which have left Ratcliffe's INEOS-supported bid and the Qatari bid fronted by Sheikh Jassim as the two most serious parties.

While it is hard to genuinely gauge the feelings of such a massive and international fan base, Ratcliffe's offer to buy just 51% of the club and allow the Glazers to keep a stake of around 20% is unlikely to sit well with much of the support.

What has journalist Ben Jacobs said about the Manchester United takeover?

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "INEOS, with a more flexible offer for control of the football club, have never at the point we're recording this anyway been put in exclusivity, nor have they obviously completed a deal for the football club.

"And the reason for that is because even if the Glazers like the offer on the table that could allow Joel and Avram to stay, it's still got to get board approval."

What other sports teams does Jim Ratcliffe own?

Should Ratcliffe and INEOS get their way this summer and become the majority owners of United, it'll be the British Billionaires' fifth sports organisation and his third football club for which he will be the majority owner.

The first football team he purchased was the Swiss super league outfit FC Lausanne-Sport. He bought the team back in 2017, and things immediately went wrong, with the side being relegated in his first year of ownership, coming back up the following year.

The second side in his stable of European football teams is the slightly more prestigious Ligue 1 side, Nice.

INEOS took control of the French club in 2019, and since then, things have gone okay for the club, finishing fifth in 2020, ninth in 2021, fifth again in 2022 and finally ninth again last year.

The 70-year-old businessman also owns the sailing team Ineos Britannia and the cycling team Ineos Grenadiers which has competed in the Tour de France.

If the lifelong United fan really wants to add the historic club to that list and win the fans onside, he might want to reconsider the offer to keep the Glazers onboard.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur over a player who could be on their way out of the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, Atletico Madrid have opened talks with Spurs over a potential deal to sign central midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer.

The report claims that the two clubs are having discussions as the Spanish side are attempting to convince the Premier League team to part ways with their battler, as they are currently reluctant to sanction a transfer.

It is stated that the Denmark international is interested in making the switch to La Liga as they have Champions League football to offer him next season.

Who could replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at Tottenham?

Ange Postecoglou could forget all about the former Bayern Munich enforcer by securing a deal to sign Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat before the end of the summer.

Tottenham were keen on signing the Morocco international in the January transfer window and have reportedly retained their interest throughout the year.

Fiorentina are reportedly demanding €30m (£26m) for the defensive midfielder and Daniel Levy must work with the Australian head coach to bring him to England as a replacement for Hojbjerg, should he move to Madrid in the coming weeks.

As you can see in the above graphic, as provided by Opta, the Danish dynamo excels at winning possession back and taking plenty of touches of the ball across the pitch in comparison to his positional peers.

This shows that he is a possession-based midfielder who is also excellent at breaking up opposition attacks to protect his own goal.

Meanwhile, Amrabat, who has been hailed as "criminally underrated" by journalist Muhammad Butt, is a similar type of number six as he is also impressive in those aspects of the game – as shown in the Opta chart below.

Their respective statistics from last season suggest that they are both defensively excellent midfielders, which means that Postecoglou would not be weakening his side from a defensive perspective by signing the Serie A star to line up in Hojbjerg's place next season.

However, the former Celtic boss could improve the quality of his team's play in possession by making this switch as Amrabat is exceptional at using his range of passing to progress the ball.

The 26-year-old titan has averaged 7.93 progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days, which places him among the top 8% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions in that time.

Whereas, Hojbjerg has completed 6.59 progressive passes per 90 during that period and does not crack the top 20% of midfielders in that statistic.

Therefore, Amrabat, who was described as an "absolute colossus" by Morocco by ex-England ace Stuart Pearce, could offer more in possession to find his teammates in better positions, as he is capable of progressing the ball more frequently than the former Southampton man.

These statistics indicate that Postecoglou could forget all about Hojbjerg in a swoop for the Fiorentina gem due to his outstanding ability in and out of possession, which would allow the manager to sanction an exit for the 27-year-old general.

Manchester United have kicked off their summer transfer dealings after wrapping up a deal for England international, Mason Mount, with Erik ten Hag finally getting his man for an initial fee of £55m.

While the expectation is that the Red Devils will now prioritise moves for a new goalkeeper and centre-forward over the coming weeks, there have also been reports that Mount could be joined by another midfield addition at Old Trafford, helping to provide competition to the likes of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro ahead of next season.

As per 90min, the likes of Romeo Lavia and Sofyan Amrabat have been mooted as possible targets, although reports in Spain have claimed that Ten Hag is keen to snap up Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid, with the 23-year-old also said to be open to making the move to England after just 12 months in the Spanish capital.

The belief is that Ten Hag has ordered United officials to travel to Madrid in order to try and strike a deal for the former Monaco man, with the La Liga giants likely to demand around €80m (£69m) if they are to part ways with the 6 foot 2 maestro this summer.

Just a year on from having snapped up Casemiro from the Bernabeu on a £70m deal, the Red Devils could again raid Los Blancos for another dominant midfield gem.

How good is Aurelien Tchouameni?

The 25-cap France international has already received glowing praise from a man with United connections in recent times, having been described as a "superb talent" by Champions League-winning defender Rio Ferdinand following his displays at the World Cup in Qatar.

Also hailed as a "ball-recovering machine" by journalist Lucas Navarette – as he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for tackles made – Tchouameni could provide competition to the aforementioned Casemiro at the base of the midfield, before potentially succeeding the Brazilian as the first-choice option in the years to come.

The Rouen-born gem's suitability for life in the Premier League in that deep-lying role can be illustrated by his apparent likeness to Manchester City's Rodri, according to FBref, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities.

That comparison between the duo is best showcased by their innate composure in possession, with the City star ranking in the top 2% for pass completion, while Tchouameni ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

Not that the two men merely look for the safe pass, however, with the Madrid menace also ranking in the top 5% for attempted passes as a marker of his forward-thinking approach, with that trait also shared by Rodri, who ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

In a defensive sense, the pair are also alike as a result of that physical dominance, with Tchouameni ranking in the top 11% for aerial duels won, while the former Atletico Madrid ace ranks in the top 9% for that same metric.

The latter man is certainly a figure whom any manager would wish to have in their ranks, with the Spaniard having been described as the "best holding midfielder in the world" by pundit Danny Murphy, having played his part in helping Pep Guardiola's side to treble glory last season.

For United to then be able to acquire their own, younger version of the 27-year-old with the signing of Tchouameni could represent a dream scenario, with the hope being that Ten Hag has the funds at his disposal to get that marquee deal over the line.

Rangers and Nottingham Forest are still working on a deal for Jonathan Panzo, but the proposed switch has not advanced much further in the past week, according to a recent report from Football Scotland.

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

Transfer insider Dean Jones suspects that Rangers may still have some work to do in the transfer market, despite already bringing in a number of players, recently telling GiveMeSport:

"I think it's seven they've got through the door already, at least a couple more to follow. The Cifuentes one is being held up a bit, but even with that, I don't think Rangers are finished yet. I'm expecting another forward player and another defender as well to be signed."

One defender the Gers are still considering a move for is Auston Trusty, who could be leaving Arsenal this summer, however, they now face a transfer battle, with English Championship side Ipswich Town also joining the race for his signature.

Panzo has been a target for the Light Blues for quite some time, with talks being held over a deal for the Nottingham Forest defender well over a month ago, and there has now been an update on their pursuit.

According to a report from Football Scotland, the deal is still being worked on by both clubs, but there has been very little progress in the past week, with Rangers aware it is likely they will need to pay £2.5m to secure his signature. Michael Beale is keen to add the 22-year-old to his squad, despite the recent arrival of Leon Balogun on a free transfer.

The player's salary has been put to the Light Blues, but there has been no recent movement while they are out in Germany for their pre-season training camp, and the deal does not appear to be edging any closer to completion.

Who is Jonathan Panzo?

Hailed as an "exciting young player" by Forest boss Steve Cooper, the centre-back started his career at Chelsea, making a handful of appearances at youth level, before going on to test himself in Ligue 1 with AS Monaco and Dijon, and in the Jupiler Pro League with Cercle Brugge.

Despite his age, the Englishman already has a considerable amount of first-team experience, emerging as an important player for Coventry during their push for the Premier League last season, making a total of 32 appearances in all competitions.

Forest U21s coach Dave Rogers has also praised the 6 foot 1 defender, who is represented by the same agent as Ben Davies, saying:

"He is a great professional. He's enthusiastic and has got good experience and energy too. He brings a great vibe to the dressing room too."

Over the past year, the former Monaco man ranks highly across a number of key metrics for defenders, when compared to players at a similar level, ranking in the 95th percentile for interceptions per 90, and in the 85th percentile for tackles. Therefore, Panzo could be a fantastic addition for Rangers, and Beale may well be hoping that more progress can be made in the coming days and weeks.

Fulham have now made a bid of €25m (£22m) for Benfica defender Morato, who is keen on a move to Craven Cottage this summer, according to a recent report from Maisfutebol.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

At the moment, Fulham appear to be bracing for a couple of major departures, with Aleksandar Mitrovic reportedly telling relatives he will never play for the club again, in light of them valuing him at £52m to ward off interest from Al Hilal.

Marco Silva's future is also in doubt, with the manager's agents meeting with representatives of Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli in London, to discuss a potential £40m deal to manage in the Saudi Pro League.

With the future of their star striker and manager up in the air, it is a worrying time for Fulham, however, they still remain active in the transfer market, having recently submitted a bid of £15m for Ajax defender Calvin Bassey.

However, considering the Dutch side paid £20m for the 23-year-old last summer, it seems unlikely they would be willing to part with him for a lower amount, and the Cottagers have now identified Morato as a major target.

That is according to a report from Portuguese outlet Maisfutebol (via Sport Witness), which states that Fulham have now stepped up their interest in the Benfica defender by lodging a "decisive" offer of €25m (£22m) in order to acquire his services.

Silva's side are willing to offer the 22-year-old a significantly-improved salary package, which would nearly quadruple his wages, and the player himself would be keen on a move to Craven Cottage.

The Brazilian has allegedly instructed Benfica to accept the proposal made by the west London club, but Benfica have already turned down four bids in recent days, so it remains to be seen whether £22m is deemed to be a high enough offer.

Who is Morato?

The Francisco Morato-born defender initially made his breakthrough with Sao Paulo, attracting the attention of Benfica, where he has spent the last four seasons, making a total of 50 appearances for the Portuguese club.

However, the 6 foot 3 centre-back has been unable to cement a regular place in the starting XI, making a total of just nine outings in the league last season.

Given that Benfica won the league title last season, it is understandable that the former Sao Paulo man was not able to break into the first team, and he could still be a quality signing for Fulham.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Benfica ace as "magnificent", while also claiming he "has everything to become a world-class centre-back."

One of the £8k-per-week defender's best attributes is his passing ability, having averaged a pass-completion rate of 90% over the past year, which places him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

It would certainly be a risk for Fulham to sign Morato, given that he only has very limited first-team experience, but he is still very young and he is showing signs that he could go on to be a top player.

Chelsea could be set to secure yet another summer signing as Mauricio Pochettino aims to strengthen his side ahead of the 2023/24 season.

What's the latest on Kudus to Chelsea?

The Stamford Bridge side have been linked recently with a move for Ajax starlet, Mohammed Kudus as Pochettino aims to bolster his attacking options, and new a development has occurred with regard to a potential move.

Journalist Rudy Galetti tweeted: “#Chelsea had first contacts with #Ajax for Mohammed #Kudus.

“Understand that #CFC have verbally agreed the personal terms with the Ghanaian player: now it’s up to clubs to find an agreement.

“Other 2 English teams have showed a concrete interest in him: evolving situation.”

It would be a major statement of intent should they lure the youngster away from Ajax to England, especially considering teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal are showing interest and they have Champions League football to look forward to next term.

The 22-year-old will only cost the Blues around £40m, which given their recent extravagant activity in the transfer market, it could be a bargain.

Could Mohammed Kudus replace Mason Mount?

Attacking midfielder Mason Mount departed Chelsea this summer, joining Manchester United in a deal which could be worth £60m, becoming one of the several players to leave the club.

Since making his debut under Frank Lampard back in 2019, Mount made nearly 200 appearances for the Blues and registered 70 goal contributions in that time period, a solid return.

Last season featured just three goals and six assists across 35 games and with one year left on his deal, Chelsea clearly felt £60m was a decent enough figure to let him depart.

Kudus has all the attributes to replace Mount in the Chelsea squad, and given that he is younger, he has the potential to surpass his achievements.

The Ajax starlet was among one of the finest attacking midfielders when compared to his positional peers over the previous 365 days, ranking in the top 2% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.55), top 1% for successful take ons per 90 (4.57) and top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.27) and this clearly indicates that he is a major threat in the opposition penalty area.

In comparison, Mount registered just 0.13 non-penalty goals, 0.86 successful take ons and 3.32 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 during the same period, suggesting that Kudus could even be a major upgrade on the Englishman.

Not only did Kudus register six goal contributions in the Champions League last season – four goals and two assists – but he demonstrated his attacking qualities on the biggest stage of them all – the World Cup.

He scored twice in the competition while also succeeding with 3.3 dribbles per game – a success rate of 71% – and the youngster ranked first across the whole Ghana squad for these metrics. It wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling at the first hurdle, however, the world got a glimpse of his outstanding talents.

It’s no wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the player as “electric” and should he carry on the form which saw him explode in the Champions League and the World Cup, he could be a stunning success at Chelsea as the man to replace Mount.