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Glasgow Rangers bounced back from their cup final defeat last week by beating Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Head coach Michael Beale made changes to his side and Antonio Colak was one of the players who benefitted from that as the striker led the line ahead of Alfredo Morelos.

The former POAK forward assisted Fashion Sakala’s goal and recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.2 as he justified his selection in the side with an excellent performance.

Since arriving in Glasgow last summer, the 29-year-old has plundered 11 goals in 16 Premiership starts and scored 15 goals in 33 matches for the club in total.

His superb form for the Light Blues comes after a difficult spell in Greece where he only managed four strikes and two assists in 39 outings for PAOK, although he did score 22 times in 41 games for Malmo on loan during that period.

Could Rangers repeat their Antonio Colak masterclass?

Colak’s impressive goal return for Rangers shows that sporting director Ross Wilson played a masterclass in signing him last summer.

However, the former Southampton chief could now repeat that trick by dipping into the Greek market once again to sign Fotis Ioannidis from Panathinaikos.

Rangers have reportedly sent scouts to watch the centre-forward in action and could find their next Colak by snapping him up in the summer transfer window.

Ioannidis, who only turned 23 in January, has produced three goals and two assists in ten Super League starts this season, after managing to hit the back of the net four times in 15 starts in the division last term, with that return marking a goal contribution every other start.

The youngster, who has been capped four times by Greece, also scored eight goals in 49 matches for APO Levadiakos before his move to Panathinaikos – to go along with his 13 in 87 for his current club – and this shows that the forward has plenty of experience despite being early on in his career.

Journalist Josh Bunting previously stated that he was “impressed” with the marksman, who has “lovely balance”, and the 6 foot 1 ace’s solid statistics suggest that praise is warranted.

Ioannidis is yet to have a breakthrough campaign in terms of beating the goalkeeper on a consistent basis but the young talent has built up a bank of experience and showcased his potential as a goalscorer in limited starts. As such, the striker could be an excellent long-term signing for the Gers.

Newcastle United are bidding to end a staggering 68-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they take on Manchester United in the League Cup final this evening.

Their last one came in 1955, when they lifted the FA Cup, and Eddie Howe and his team now have a chance to etch their names into the history books with a win today.

The Magpies do, however, come into the match off the back of three matches without a win in the Premier League and lost their last outing, 2-0, to Liverpool at St. James’ Park.

This could be Howe’s most important team selection since he arrived at the club in 2021 and one player who must be unleashed from the start is centre-forward Callum Wilson.

Should Callum Wilson start in the League Cup final for Newcastle?

The England international was a substitute against the Reds last time out but should be brought back into the XI for this clash as the marksman is a proven goalscorer for the club and Alexander Isak could provide a huge threat off the bench.

Isak has scored once in his last five starts for the Magpies but has produced one goal and one assist in his last four appearances off the bench, which suggests that the Sweden international has the ability to make a significant impact as a substitute.

Wilson, meanwhile, scored in his last start – against West Ham – for Newcastle with the gem having been a prolific scorer for the club for many years.

The £46k-per-week dynamo has delivered seven goals and three assists in 14 Premier League starts this season. Last term, the forward managed eight goals in 16 starts and that came after he plundered 12 strikes and five assists in 23 starts during his debut campaign with the club after joining from Bournemouth in 2020.

These statistics show that the striker, who teammate Kieran Trippier dubbed “non-stop”, is a reliable scorer and creator for Newcastle at the top level.

Reach PLC editor Andrew Musgrove once hailed the Englishman’s “clinical edge” and his record in the Premier League since arriving from the Cherries backs that up, as the 30-year-old has 27 strikes to his name in 53 starts – more than a goal every other match.

The ex-Bournemouth man has proven his quality and his reliability over the course of his three seasons on Tyneside and Howe must reward the talent by unleashing him from the start at Wembley, which also allows Isak to be utilised as a super-sub off the bench.

Chelsea had an expensive transfer window in January spending £323m on eight new additions to improve their Premier League season, however, it looks like the club are not finished in their pursuit of transforming the squad as a new potential target emerges.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Chelsea are amongst a number of clubs scouting talented Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

As per the report, it is claimed that the Blues are set to address their goalkeeper situation at Stamford Bridge in the summer with both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy out of contract in 2025.

It is believed that Chelsea scouts are active across Europe with Costa one of the potential targets they are keeping an eye on alongside Manchester United who have also taken an interest in the young keeper.

Potter could ditch Kepa

There is no doubt that Todd Boehly is an ambitious owner who is dedicated to getting Chelsea back in contention for trophies as well as domination in both the Premier League and European football too.

The west Londoners are currently ninth in the top-flight table after a disappointing run of performance over their first 21 outings and are currently ten points adrift from a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four.

Chelsea have the worst goal difference and have scored the fewest amount inside the top half of the table, missing out on crucial points and progression due to tight margins that have cost them dearly – losing by just one goal in a number of their games over the last few months against Manchester City, Fulham, Newcastle United and Arsenal.

Kepa – dubbed “error-prone” by broadcaster Bolarinwa Olajide – has been occupying the starting spot in goal for the Blues this season due to Mendy’s injury issues and the controversial ‘keeper has seen better days, conceding up to four goals per game on more than one occasion so far, having allowed in four against Man City in the FA Cup and another four against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League back in October.

Indeed, the club’s recruitment drive has been largely focused on improving the attacking threat over the most recent transfer window, but the signing of Costa in the summer could be a huge boost in their ability to see out games and improve next term.

The 23-year-old – who was dubbed an “enormous talent” by Sergio Conceicao – ranks in the top 2% of keepers in the next eight best competitive leagues for goals against and clean sheet percentage, as well as ranking in the top 12% for crosses stopped.

Not only that, over 19 league appearances this season the shot-stopper has made 36 saves, kept an impressive ten clean sheets and conceded only 11 goals so far, as well as winning 100% of his aerial duels per game, which is extremely eye-catching and could make him hugely valuable to Chelsea in the future.

With that being said, if the powers at Stamford Bridge are considering their options for a new gloveman this summer they should look no further than Costa. Indeed, he could provide the consistency and longevity needed to get Chelsea competing at the highest level once again.

Manchester City play host to Arsenal in the FA Cup tonight, with Pep Guardiola no doubt wanting his side to set down a marker ahead of the crucially important upcoming fixtures against the Gunners in the Premier League.

The Citizens are currently five points behind Mikel Arteta’s side in the top flight having played a game more but still have to face Arsenal twice in the league, which emphasises that the title race is far from over.

Therefore, it is imperative that City attempt to knock Arsenal’s confidence with a win in the FA Cup this evening and Guardiola should hand Joao Cancelo a start after dropping him for recent fixtures.

The Portugal international has lost his starting place to 18-year-old Rico Lewis on a number of occasions since the World Cup break, with his only two 90 minutes resulting in two defeats against Southampton and Manchester United respectively.

He was also hooked at half-time in the 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which suggests that he certainly isn’t in Guardiola’s good books right now.

Reports seem to confirm this, with Spanish journalist Jose Alvarez reporting that a number of first-team regulars including Cancelo, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are all “disgruntled” with the current situation at the Etihad.

The Telegraph recently reported that the Portuguese star was attracting interest from around Europe after losing his place in the side, so there’s no guarantee he will remain at the Etihad Stadium much past January, let alone the summer transfer window.

It is perhaps not a surprise that some players are unhappy, as Guardiola didn’t hold back in his criticism of his players after the recent comeback win against Tottenham Hotspur, suggesting that he didn’t recognise his team.

However, with Lewis forced off with injury against Spurs, it opens the door for Cancelo to start and hopefully rediscover some of the form that saw him recognised as one of the best in the world last season.

Since his £60m switch from Juventus in 2019, the former Valencia dynamo has gone on to make 154 appearances for the Citizens, contributing nine goals and 22 assists.

Part of Arsenal’s success this season has come from Oleksandr Zinchenko being afforded the freedom to roam from his left-back position and almost play as another midfielder but if Cancelo is given license to push forward and support Riyad Mahrez on the right-hand side, it could force the Ukrainian back into a more defensive area.

There is no doubt that the Portuguese defender is capable of being a world-class playmaker on his day and if Guardiola wants to repair his seemingly strained relationship with the 28-year-old, then he must restore him to the starting side against the Gunners tonight.

Glasgow Rangers secured their place in the League Cup final with a 2-1 win last Sunday, and Michael Beale has a chance to claim silverware just a couple of months into his reign at Ibrox.

Despite the victory, there are still vast improvements to be made, and the tie could easily have ended in defeat for the Gers had Anthony Stewart not received his marching orders just before the final whistle.

With the January transfer window in full swing, Beale will surely be aiming to sign a couple of new players for the Light Blues, especially with the multiple contract dilemmas facing the club.

At the end of the season, Rangers could potentially lose Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack and Steven Davis, who are all set to be out of contract, while James Sands and Malik Tillman could return to their parent clubs after their respective loan spells.

According to Mark McDougall of Football Scotland, Rangers “made contact” with midfielder Ahmed Kendouci last month but no move has materialised as of yet. If Beale does manage to secure a deal for the 23-year-old, though, he could be the perfect heir to Davis at Ibrox.

The 38-year-old is likely to have played his final game for the club having suffered an injury in training which means he will subsequently miss the final few months of the season. The Northern Irishman has been a wonderful player for the club in two different spells, playing 360 times for the Gers while registering 97 goal contributions, and his experience will be sorely missed.

Kendouci could slot into a central midfield role with ease and become the long-term heir to Davis if he moves to Rangers. He has already been impressing for ES Setif in Algeria, registering 41 goal involvements in 107 matches for his current club, and he can also play further up the field in a more attacking midfield role.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the Algerian in 2021, describing him as “a complete midfielder with a left foot made of gold”, and his qualities would certainly fit in with Beale’s philosophy.

The 23-year-old has 18 months left on his current contract, and this could potentially be used as leverage by Rangers in order to secure a move on the cheap this month.

However, Beale will need to act fast in order to secure the players that he wants before the transfer window shuts in two weeks’ time; and with uncertainty over the future of several members of the first-team squad, securing a new midfielder or two could be a wise move before the summer.

Leeds United are ‘preparing an offer’ to sign Red Bull Salzburg centre-back Maximilian Wober in January, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Marsch keen on Wober reunion

The Premier League side are currently hovering just above the relegation zone following a mixed start to the season, and having already conceded 26 top-flight goals prior to tonight’s clash against Manchester City, the need for defensive reinforcements is clear.

The Austrian still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his deal with Matthias Jaissle’s side, but with Jesse Marsch already knowing the 24-year-old from their mutual time at Salzburg, it appears that the Leeds boss is keen to form a reunion at Elland Road.

The Latest: Leeds readying Wober offer

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that the Whites are set to submit an official bid for Wober in the hope of landing him in the New Year.

He wrote: “Excl: Leeds United are now preparing an offer for Red Bull Salzburg defender Maximilian Wober. Discussions expected to take place for [a] fee [of] around €11m plus €5m add-ons. Wober, important player for Salzburg as he’s the captain.”

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The Verdict: Splash the cash

Leeds’ chances of signing Wober must be high given his existing connection to Marsch, and the Elland Road hierarchy should put sufficient money on the table to get this deal over the line.

The 6 foot 2 colossus has been a rock at the heart of the Salzburg defence this season, recording 22 interceptions and 15 successful tackles (FBref).

Wober also offers a threat at the other end of the pitch, boasting eight goal contributions across all competitions this term, making him the perfect target for the Whites in next month’s transfer window.

Highly-rated Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous is good enough to join Celtic, according to a claim from coach John Hughes.

The Lowdown: Old Firm battle

The 23-year-old has matured into an impressive young player in the Scottish Premiership, becoming an undisputed key man for Hibs, despite his tender years.

Porteous has been described as ‘excellent’ by goalkeeper Craig Gordon and has already made a total of 151 appearances for his current club.

His current Hibs deal expires at the end of this season though, leading to links with the league’s powerhouses, as both the Bhoys and rivals Rangers are reportedly battling to sign him.

The Latest: Porteous good enough for Celtic

Speaking to The Daily Record, Hughes claimed that Porteous is good enough for either club, although the same article claims that Rangers won’t sign him:

“One hundred per cent Porto has a target on his back and he’s been hard done by. But that goes with the territory of being a heart-on-sleeve, full-blooded type of player.

“Maybe that’s a reason to get out of Scotland. I don’t know. But at the same time he has been capped by Scotland because he has all those qualities.

“He has become a much better footballer over the last couple of years too. And he is still evolving and will be even better. Nothing intimidates Ryan. Going to Ibrox is not a problem for him. That’s the kind of guy you want in your team.

“A lot of people mention his temperament. If you take that out him then you’re not getting the same player.

“In terms of determination, commitment and putting your body on the line then all your best players have that edge and it’s a case of managing it. Sometimes I needed to start a fight to get wound up and get the best out of myself. Take that hunger and desire out of Porto and you don’t have the same player.

“It’s what makes him one of the favourites at Easter Road. The way he has progressed over the last couple of years he is good enough for the Old Firm. Definitely.

“I have no idea where he will end up but I’d expect it will be down south. He has all the qualities to go on and be a top, top defender.”

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The Verdict: Snap him up, Hoops

Porteous could be a brilliant signing by Celtic, coming in as a talented homegrown prospect with a high ceiling in the coming years and with the added bonus of beating the Gers to his signature.

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To have already played such a hefty number of games for Hibs at just 23 speaks volumes about his ability and he could provide competition for the likes of Cameron Carter-Vicker and Carl Starfelt at centre-back.

The fact that Porteous has represented Scotland at senior, Under-21 and Under-19 further highlights his quality, and considering he would be available on a free transfer in the summer, it could be a no-brainer for Celtic.

Arsenal could make a push for Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu, according to reports out of Italy.

The Lowdown: Arteta’s men flying…

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently Premier League title contenders and top the table as England’s most in-form side, even above current champions Manchester City.

The Gunners have been stern in defence, conceding the joint-fewest league goals so far this term alongside Newcastle United (11). Meanwhile, only City have scored more goals at the other end, with no team winning more games or losing fewer than Arsenal.

On paper, they appear to be in brilliant stead, but it’s the job of sporting director Edu to improve Arteta’s squad when given an opportunity.

The Latest: Arsenal could push for Calhanoglu…

According to Italian sources, Edu and Arsenal could make a move for Calhanoglu.

Inter Live reported on Tuesday that the 74-cap Turkey international’s ‘armoury’ could in fact ‘push some rich clubs’ to opt for his signing, specifically naming the north Londoners and top-flight rivals Aston Villa.

The report adds that Calhanoglu could be sold if an offer of €30m (£26m) comes in for him, even if he is one of Inter’s ‘big names’.

The Verdict: Make the move?

£26m is arguably a very fair price considering that the attacker is currently in his prime at 28 years of age.

Furthermore, Calhanoglu is also demonstrating very good form at club level right now, standing out as Inter’s second-best performing player by average match rating from WhoScored.

The midfielder’s creative influence cannot be understated, having made more key passes per 90 on average than any Nerazzurri player over 2022/23.

Calhanoglu could provide an extra dimension of attacking threat for Arteta if Edu does indeed decide to press ahead with this prospective move.

An early piece of team news has emerged ahead of Glasgow Rangers’ clash with St Mirren in the Premiership this afternoon…

What’s the latest?

Light Blues manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Ryan Jack will play a part in the game after missing the last eight matches with a calf injury.

He told reporters, via the club’s official Twitter account:

“It’s been a busy period for everyone involved in football at the moment. You are seeing a lot of teams at the highest level struggling with injuries and the packed schedule ahead of the World Cup.”

The head coach then added:

“Ryan Jack will be involved in the squad tomorrow, it should also be beneficial for him to get minutes with Scotland.”

Big boost

This piece of early team news is a big boost for van Bronckhorst heading into the trip to St Mirren in the final Premiership match before the World Cup break.

Coincidentally, Jack’s last appearance for Rangers in the Scottish top-flight was the 4-0 win over today’s opponents at Ibrox back at the start of October.

He dominated the Saints on that occasion as he put in a fantastic performance in the middle of the park, earning a SofaScore rating of 7.6. The Scotland international won four of his five individual duels, making three tackles and one clearance, whilst also completing 91% of his attempted passes and creating two chances for his teammates, also per SofaScore.

Jack’s last outing for the Gers in any competition was the 7-1 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League when he registered an assist for Scott Arfield’s ultimately irrelevant opening goal.

He has proven himself to be an instrumental player for the Light Blues when he has been available for selection in recent years. Last season, the midfield maestro averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.92 across nine appearances in the Europa League – making 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game and completing 84% of his passes on the club’s way to the final of the competition.

However, injury issues have been his downfall in the last two seasons as he missed 69 competitive games between the start of 2020/21 and the end of 2021/22. Jack needs to remain consistent in terms of his availability in order for the manager to benefit from his evident quality on the pitch more often.

The Scottish metronome has proven, with his aforementioned statistics, that he has the ability to put in impressive performances in the Premiership and in Europe, and that is why having him in contention to feature against St Mirren is a big boost for van Bronckhorst.

Wolves reporter for The Athletic Steve Madeley has ripped into Nelson Semedo after his red card at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Semedo off

Semedo was sent off in the first half after bundling over Kaoru Mitoma when he could have eventually got a shot away.

The referee gave him a straight red card, and after a check by VAR, the decision stood, leaving the Molineux outfit to play the second half with ten men.

The Latest: Madeley rips into Semedo

Taking to Twitter, Madeley claimed that Semedo’s defending was ‘dreadful’ to put himself in the position to foul Mitoma:

“VAR checks but the red card stands. Foul on Mitoma. I think that’s harsh, but it was dreadful defending from Semedo to put himself in that position.”

Madeley did question whether Mitoma had a clear goalscoring opportunity after Semedo’s mistake, but admitted that the right-back was ‘really poor’ in his challenge:

“Semedo completely ‘done’ by Mitoma and then bundles his over. Was it a ‘clear goalscoring opportunity’? Hmm. But Semedo really poor.”

The Verdict: Let his team down

Semedo certainly let his team down by going in so clumsily on Mitoma, and the £77,000-per-week man was always susceptible to getting sent off in that kind of area of the football pitch.

The home side had worked hard to get themselves in front through a Ruben Neves penalty, after Goncalo Guedes had equalised following Adam Lallana’s opener.

But Mitoma got the visitors level, and Semedo clearly did not fancy himself up against the Japan international upon making his run, and in the end cost his side as Pascal Gross scored a late winner.

With Diego Costa getting himself sent off last weekend, new manager Julen Lopetegui must not like what he is seeing from the Wanderers in terms of their discipline.