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West Ham United are showing real ambition in their attempts to replace Gianluca Scamacca, with news coming to light on Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani.

Who will West Ham next?

Earlier this week, the Irons completed their first major signing of this summer, as Mexico international midfielder Edson Alvarez joined the club from Ajax.

David Moyes had to wait long, and even saw moves for the likes of Carlos Borges hijacked late on, but Alvarez's arrival comes as a wonderful bit of news.

The 25-year-old could make his debut against Bournemouth today as West Ham gear up for their opening game of the season, with Moyes expressing his joy at the capture of Alvarez.

“We’re really pleased to add Edson to our squad,” he said.

“The midfield area was one we were especially keen to strengthen this summer – and Edson will complement the other options we have in that department. He’s an experienced international player, who has enjoyed great success for both club and country during his career to date.

“We’re excited about welcoming to West Ham and seeing him play his part in English and European competition for the club."

As we enter the crunch phase of this transfer window, attention will now turn to the signing of a striker, with Scamacca's departure to Atalanta coming as a real blow.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Moyes needs a proven goalscorer to come in the Italian's stead, leading to them making a rather ambitious play for Paris-Saint Germain and Man United target Kolo Muani, who could cost as much as £85 million.

The Bundesliga striker, who enjoyed a dazzling campaign at Eintracht last term, has been subject to interest from all over Europe and we can now add West Ham to that growing list of admirers.

Kolo Muani, according to a report by 90min, has been subject to an approach from West Ham who have moved for the player by enquiring about his summer price tag.

Not much else is said on how the Hammers want to proceed, but it's clear they have their sights set quite high in their bid to sign a proven striker for Moyes.

Alongside the likes of Man United and PSG, it is also believed Bayern Munich had him on their radar before swooping for Harry Kane.

How good is Randal Kolo Muani?

The France international forward hit 26 goal contributions in the German top flight alone over 2022/2023, bagging 15 goals and 11 assists (WhoScored).

His frightening form has alerted some of Europe's top clubs and West Ham are now no exception, though they will surely face stiff competition for his signature.

Felix Magath, speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe on Kolo Muani, called him both "amazing" and a "very clinical" striker in the final third.

"He's amazing," said former Eintracht and Bayern boss Magath (L'Equipe via Bundesliga).

"He's not only a strong dribbler, but he's very clinical in the final third. I love his mentality; he's always thinking about the team. That's obvious when you look at how many assists he's got this season."

He could be the perfect Scamacca replacement, but it will be tricky to get a move over the line if West Ham decide to go further.

West Ham United are interested in signing Manchester United forward Anthony Martial this summer, as David Moyes looks to bolster his attacking options, and a new update has emerged.

So far this summer, the Hammers have signed just one player, welcoming Edson Alvarez from Ajax.

What's the latest on Anthony Martial to West Ham?

The London club have already done business with United this summer, of course, agreeing on a £30m deal to sign central defender Harry Maguire, according to Sky Sports, as well as seeing their bid for Scott McTominay reportedly rejected.

With plenty of money to spend following the exit of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a reported £105m earlier this summer, Moyes will be keen to welcome players in the coming weeks, having seen West Ham sign just one player in the current window, despite the hefty fee received for Rice.

According to talkSPORT, West Ham have made an approach to sign Martial and are in talks over a transfer. Given that the Frenchman's contract expires next summer, the Red Devils may look to accept a cut-price fee in the current transfer window, handing the Hammers an advantage.

Should West Ham sign Anthony Martial?

Even though Martial has struggled for fitness in a Manchester United shirt, the quality is still there, and securing the Frenchman's signature would represent solid business for West Ham.

At his best, Martial is a player with the quality to play in the Champions League, scoring 88 goals in 298 appearances throughout his time at Old Trafford.

The only obstacle standing in the way could be his wages, however, with the former AS Monaco man earning a reported £250k a week, which would make him West Ham's highest earner.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Compared to Moyes' current options, too, the 27-year-old stands out. According to FBref, when compared to Michail Antonio and Danny Ings last season, Martial made more progressive passes, scored more and assisted more goals per 90, and enjoyed a better take-on success.

The numbers suggest that Martial would be a major upgrade on the current forwards at the London Stadium. At his best, the United forward has earned plenty of praise, too, with Lee Sharpe telling TalkSport:

“I think Martial on his day is unplayable. I think he’s that good. That’s what frustrates fans, knowing he’s that good but not doing it week-in, week-out.

"I don’t know the lad personally so I’m unsure whether he is happy playing out wide, or if he prefers playing as a number nine.

"If United get the best of Martial then everybody will be happy.”

With that said, if West Ham secured the signature of Martial this summer and got the best out of him, they may well have themselves a new forward ready to take them up a level or two, and it looks as if a deal is one to watch.

Everton are now closing in on a move for Che Adams, with a new report revealing how much they are set to pay for the Southampton striker.

What's the latest Everton transfer news?

The Toffees have made it clear they intend to bring in new attacking reinforcements in the remainder of the transfer window, having made four offers for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, however they now look set to miss out on the Italy international.

Talks with the Championship club are said to have collapsed, with Leeds adamant the winger is not for sale, so Sean Dyche may be forced to turn his attentions elsewhere, and the manager could pursue FC Porto winger Goncalo Borges.

The Portuguese club would be willing to accept a £13m bid for the 22-year-old's services, should Everton decide to take their initial interest further, although they ideally do not want to lose him at this stage of his career.

In terms of potential additions at striker, there have been some reports the Toffees would be keen on signing Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike, but it now appears as though they are closing in on another striker.

According to a report from The Telegraph, a £15m move for Adams is now close to being completed, with the forward set to make a swift return to the Premier League, as long as the fee and payment structure can be agreed.

Dyche is prioritising the addition of a new striker, given that his side were the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League last season, and he is now close to completing a deal for the Southampton marksman.

In a more recent update from Football Insider, it is detailed that the Scot is set for his medical, with Everton now in the process of putting the finishing touches on the deal.

The 27-year-old is set to be given permission to travel to Merseyside and finalise his move to Goodison Park, having been keen to leave the Saints following their relegation from the top flight.

Read The Latest Everton Transfer News HERE

Where does Che Adams come from?

Although he was born in Leicester, the Saints forward represents Scotland at international level, making 23 appearances for his national side, managing to find the back of the net six times.

Having impressed in the early stages of his international career, the £30k-per-week forward drew praise from Ally McCoist, who said: “Adams has started his international career really positively and has scored in the last two games against Moldova and Denmark. Apart from that, his general play has been terrific.

“But take it from me, as a striker you want to be hitting the back of the net and those goals will have done him the world of good.

“He’s come away from matches bursting with confidence and it has shown in his club displays. Since then, he scored against the likes of Manchester United at Old Trafford and away to Spurs as well. He has been a breath of fresh air for us.

In truth, the former Birmingham City man has not exactly been prolific in the Premier League as of late, scoring just five league goals last season, however he managed to amass 14 goal contributions in his most successful top-flight season.

If Adams is able to get back to that level for Everton this season, he could be a quality addition to Dyche's squad, and a much-needed one, given that the Toffees are yet to score a Premier League goal.

Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to make late summer signings to replace world-class striker Harry Kane, who completed a £100m transfer to Bayern Munich earlier this month.

The north London club have been active this summer after a miserable Premier League campaign last time out, with the club finishing eighth in the division and hence failing to qualify for Europe.

Ange Postecoglou has been brought in to lead from the dugout, and has indeed made a wealth of signings, including James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven, and is now seemingly eyeing up another attacking acquisition in Barcelona star Ansu Fati.

What's the latest on Ansu Fati to Tottenham?

According to El Chiringuito TV – via Caught Offside – Tottenham are considering signing talented Barcelona winger Fati before the transfer window slams shut next week, with Aston Villa also interested.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

The player's agent, Jorge Mendes, is eager to provide his client with a new stomping ground, touting the young Spaniard at €50m (£43m).

How good is Ansu Fati?

Having waved goodbye to their star man in Kane, there will understandably have been some trepidation pervading around the Lilywhites support, with the club's record goalscorer not easily replaced.

But if the opening phase of the campaign is anything to go by, life under Postecoglou could prove fruitful, with a battling away draw against Brentford preceding a succession of victories against Manchester United and Bournemouth.

Tottenham are demonstrating early signs of a fluid and cohesive outfit, with them not placing an over-reliance on any one man and playing as a team. Because of this, Fati would perhaps be wise to select the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as his next destination.

Once proclaimed to be a "generational player" by Barcelona boss Xavi, Fati burst onto the scene with frightening ability, scoring eight goals aged just 16 across the 2019/20 term, following up with five goals and four assists from ten outings in the following campaign, only to see a detrimental injury hamper his development.

Now 20, the nine-cap Spain star is on the periphery at Camp Nou and likely needs to move away from Catalonia to kickstart his career, and should Spurs succeed in their pursuit, they could well wield their very own version of Manchester United's Marcus Rashford.

Indeed, while Fati has been playing near the fringes at Barcelona, he still ranks among the top 21% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for total shots, the top 6% for pass completion and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics have prompted the statistics-led site to list Rashford as Fati's most comparable player, with the £300k-per-week Red Devil ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for goals, the top 2% for total shots and the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

With both players blessed with lightning speed and a fleet-footed gait, Fati could rival Rashford's presence by growing into his skin under Postecoglou's stewardship, perhaps finding his shooting boots and emulating his 25-year-old peer's 30-goal campaign for Manchester United last year.

While Fati has endured a rocky road during the early stages of his career, his immense talent is undeniable, and he must now move to kickstart his career and thrive as one of Europe's foremost attacking stars.

Leeds United could be set to continue their frantic end to the summer transfer window by acquiring another notable addition, with the Whites having only recently brought in the likes of Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev with the deadline now looming.

Will Leeds make any more signings?

According to the Daily Mail, the Yorkshire giants are said to have lodged an enquiry regarding the potential signing of West Bromwich Albion forward, Brandon Thomas-Asante, with the Baggies having only recently rejected a £2m offer from Stoke City for the 24-year-old.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

As per journalist Tom Collomosse, the Hawthorns hierarchy are seemingly holding out for closer to £5m if they are to sanction the sale of the Englishman, with it yet to be seen if Daniel Farke and co are ready to match that asking price.

How good is Brandon Thomas-Asante?

There may be some trepidation among Leeds supporters at the prospect of signing a player who was playing his trade for League Two side Salford City only a year ago, although the Milton Keynes-born menace has certainly warranted the interest following his fine displays in the Championship of late.

Lauded for his "infectious" work rate by West Brom fan pundit Matt Smith, the 5 foot 11 ace – who previously bagged 30 goals in 126 games for his former employers – already boasts a haul of 12 goals in just 39 outings for his current side, having made a smooth transition to life in the second tier.

That impressive record has also seen the fleet-footed ace net three goals in only four appearances in all competitions so far this term, having established himself as a leading figure in attack for former Leeds assistant, Carlos Corberan's side.

As a player who can operate through the middle or on the flanks, Thomas-Asante – who has been dubbed "a pocket rocket" by teammate Jed Wallace – could well be the man to fill the shoes of Wilfried Gnonto in Farke's ranks, amid reports that the Italian is set to make a last-ditch move to Everton, after previously handing in a transfer request last month.

Much like the Baggies star, the diminutive Italian is also something of a "firework" in attack due to his dynamism and directness, according to pundit Noel Whelan, having enjoyed a promising debut campaign at Elland Road last time out after scoring four goals and providing four assists in 28 games in all competitions.

A player who can seemingly breeze past opponents, Thomas-Asante ranks in the top 12% among his European peers with regard to successful take-ons at an average of 1.35 per 90, with that record undoubtedly similar to what Gnonto has achieved across the last 365 days, with the teenager averaging 1.40 in that regard.

If Gnonto is to depart after just a solitary season in Yorkshire it would likely be something of a blow to the newly relegated side, although bringing in a figure who has already made his mark in the Championship could well represent the perfect antidote.

With the clock ticking towards the end of a summer of twists and turns, snapping up a potential Gnonto replacement like Thomas-Asante could be a perfect conclusion as far as Farke is concerned.

There is still time for some late-summer transfer business to happen, and it looks as though one Everton player could be set to depart in the very near future, following a new update.

Will Everton sell more players?

It was clear at the end of last season that some major surgery was needed at Goodison Park, following another campaign that saw the Blues come perilously close to losing their Premier League status.

Sean Dyche will have wanted to bring in the right players, in terms of individuals he feels are perfect for his system, and the likes of Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma and Beto have all arrived at the club, among others.

It has been a disappointing start to the campaign for the Toffees, though, who have only picked up one solitary point from their opening four league matches, and it could point towards certain individuals still not being good enough to feature at the highest level.

While the summer transfer window has slammed shut in England, and in most countries for that matter, there is still just enough time for business to be completed in certain leagues, including the Turkish Super Lig.

One player who could leave Everton this week is midfielder Andre Gomes, who appears to have no future at the club under Dyche, and may want a new challenge at this point in his career. Now, a big update has emerged regarding his potential exit, with time running out to seal a move elsewhere.

Will Andre Gomes leave Everton?

According to a new update from journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu on X, Gomes is wanted by Turkish giants Fenerbahce who are in the Europa Conference League and could depart Goodison before their summer transfer window closes on Friday.

"Fenerbahce is interested in Andre Gomes, who plays for Everton."

In truth, this feels like a natural time to bring Gomes' Everton career to an end, with the Portuguese arriving as such an exciting signing from Barcelona back in 2019, when big things were expected of him.

Instead, the 30-year-old has underwhelmed in a Blues shirt overall, scoring just twice in 100 appearances and also registering only seven assists, despite being a midfielder who is thought to be a creative presence.

In fairness to Gomes, he has arguably never been the same since suffering a serious broken leg in a home Premier League clash with Tottenham during the 2019/20 season, following a tackle from Son Heung-min.

It was an incident that left the Spurs man in tears after being shown a red card, such was the severity of the injury, and it has been tough for the Everton midfielder to ever look like a true force since that moment, despite being hailed as "excellent" by Kevin Campbell.

Dyche is now creating his own team, and it seems obvious that Gomes, on £120,000-a-week, isn't a part of it, so rather than stay at Goodison and potentially earn very little playing time, it makes sense for all parties to move him on this summer, allowing him for regular minutes and possibly letting the Blues receive a fee for him, rather than lose him for free when his contract expires next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have not wasted any time before getting going under Ange Postecoglou, who has got off to a near perfect start at the club. Having endured fairly uninspiring football from the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte, the Lilywhites are now one of the most interesting sides to watch in the Premier League.

The summer transfer window certainly left them in an interesting position, and without Harry Kane, you worried about them. Yet, after four games, only Manchester City have won more points than their ten, having even defeated Manchester United along the way.

Now, they are set to strengthen further, despite the transfer window slamming shut earlier this month, with a centre-back coming through the doors of Hotspur Way.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

Losing Kane for a reported £105m to Bayern Munich in the summer, Spurs have invested their money well, welcoming the likes of Micky van de Ven, Brennan Johnson and standout player James Maddison, who already has four goal involvements in five games for the club in all competitions.

Among all the positives, though, Postecoglou actually suffered a late blow to his squad depth when Davinson Sanchez lef the club to join Galatasaray after the closure of the English transfer window, leaving Spurs short on defensive options. But it appears that's not the only out-of-window business, as Postecoglou now looks to the future.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are "on the verge" of signing the Croatian centre-back Luka Vusković on a five-year deal, fending off interest from five other clubs in the process. The 16-year-old will reportedly make the move from Hajduk Split when he turns 18 in two years, giving him plenty of time to develop even further.

Romano said: "Tottenham are on the verge of signing Croatian CB top talent Luka Vusković! After top project for his development, Vusković only wants Spurs — despite interest from 5 more top clubs. Personal terms agreed, clubs finalising paperwork. Here we go."

Who is Luka Vuskovic?

At 16, Vuskovic stands at 6 foot 4 and could still have room to grow even more, potentially making him a dominant central defender. Despite his age, the Croatian has already made 11 first-team appearances for Hajduk Split, even scoring one goal, and making the bench twice this season.

Given that he is being trusted to feature for the first-team before he's even 18-years-old, it certainly seems as though Spurs have got themselves one to watch for the future.

From the Lilywhites' perspective, they'll be hoping to get a player ready to play a part in their squad once he turns 18, and completes the move once and for all. For now, though, they'll be well aware that he is still very much in the early stages of his career, and gaining first-team experience at Split is more important than ever.

Securing the central defender once again shows how much Spurs have improved off the pitch in such a short space of time. Reportedly beating five other clubs to Vuskovic's signature, the Croatian's arrival represents a major coup for the future.

Manchester United will visit Turf Moor to face Burnley this weekend as they look to stop the rot in the Premier League.

If Erik ten Hag’s side are to get back to winning ways on Saturday night, Marcus Rashford could be the difference maker.

We at Football FanCast have looked into the history of this fixture to gauge what we can expect from Rashford when his side travel slightly further north.

What is Marcus Rashford’s goal record against Burnley?

Marcus Rashford has come up against Burnley 11 times in all competitions and whilst his team has never lost, his personal record doesn’t stand out massively.

Rashford has scored one Premier League goal against them from 10 meetings and then he also scored in his only EFL Cup clash with Clarets. The most recent meeting was that EFL Cup fixture, though, so he comes into this outing having scored in the previous one against these opponents.

What is Marcus Rashford’s assist record against Burnley?

Marcus Rashford’s assist record against Burnley doesn’t differ at all from his goal record, contributing two assists, both of which came in the league.

Both of his assists against the newly promoted side came in the 2020/21 season, one in either game as Manchester United won by an aggregate scoreline of 4-1.

How many goal contributions does Marcus Rashford have against Burnley?

Totalling up the goals and assists from Rashford against Burnley and he has amassed four goal contributions across 11 games.

The last two league meetings, which came in the 2021/22 season, saw him left on the bench at Old Trafford and then he played the majority of the Turf Moor clash.

What is Marcus Rashford’s head-to-head record against Burnley?

As previously mentioned, Manchester United have dominated this fixture since Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene, his side having not lost once.

Seven of the 11 games have gone the way of United with the other four ending in draws. His first-ever league meeting with them was a draw and the most recent one saw the game end honours even as well.

What is Marcus Rashford’s record at Burnley?

Six of the 10 Premier League meetings featuring Rashford took place on Burnley’s home soil across six seasons. It doesn’t total out at 12 clashes due to the aforementioned game that he watched on from the sidelines and then he was absent from another Old Trafford outing, a Burnley win in fact, due to a back injury.

The first five of these games at Turf Moor went the way of Manchester United and they didn’t concede a single goal along the way. They won those games by an aggregate of 8-0 and then the February 2022 matchup finished 1-1, Paul Pogba opening the scoring before Jay Rodriguez struck back for the home side.

Who has Marcus Rashford scored the most goals against?

It won’t be surprising to read that with just two goals against them, Burnley aren’t Marcus Rashford’s favourite opponents.

In all competitions, Leicester City have conceded to Rashford the most with eight strikes in 16 meetings. Across these games, Man United have won 10, drawn four and lost two.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool come next with Rashford having scored six times against each of them.

Who does Marcus Rashford have the most goal contributions against?

Rashford has eight goals and one assist against Leicester City so they are towards the top end when it comes to goal contributions, but they’re not at the top.

The England international has nine goal contributions against West Ham United and Chelsea whilst he has hit double digits, with 10 contributions, when facing Newcastle United and Arsenal.

How many goals does Marcus Rashford have in September?

Marcus Rashford has certainly enjoyed playing in September and particularly in the Premier League. In all but one September of his professional career he has found the back of the net in the league and on two occasions, he bagged twice.

Overall, Rashford has scored 14 times in September, breaking down as one Champions League goal against FC Basel in 2017, four EFL Cup strikes and then nine Premier League goals.

And this September is no different with the England international having found the back of the net against Arsenal earlier on in the month. However, it was not enough to help United to victory with the Red Devils seeing the points go to the Gunners late on in the game.

In the only league game since the defeat in north London, Rashford failed to get his name on the scoresheet against Brighton & Hove Albion.

What is Marcus Rashford’s overall Manchester United goal record?

For Manchester United, Rashford has made 364 appearances, totaling over 24,000 minutes. In that time has scored 124 goals.

77 of these strikes have come in the Premier League and he is ahead of names such as Daniel Sturridge, Gabriel Jesus and Luis Suarez in the scoring charts for the division.

What is Marcus Rashford’s overall Manchester United assist record?

Rashford is best known as a goalscorer, but his assist numbers are certainly impressive, showing that he is a valuable contributor on both ends of it.

For Manchester United, he has 69 total assists with 45 of these coming in the Premier League and then 12 coming on the continent, in either the Champions League or the Europa League.

Sunderland's remarkable revival has been spearheaded by the managerial expertise of Tony Mowbray, successfully inflicting his possession-based football onto his young side.

The Black Cats capped their return to the Championship last term with a sensational charge into the play-offs and although it ended in heartache against Luton Town in the semis, the embryonic stages of this campaign have supporters dreaming of a promotion back to the Premier League.

Currently sitting in fifth place, the prospects ahead for Sunderland are chalk and cheese compared to their struggles in the doldrums of League One but having escaped the clutches of the third-tier, the positivity surrounding the Stadium of Light is contagious.

With a youthful squad that plays attractive football, there is a lot to admire about the way in which Sunderland have gone about their business in recent times, including their strategy to recruit young players with boundless potential.

One youngster who has accentuated that strategy is the signing of Jobe Bellingham from Birmingham City for £3m as the talented teen became their most eye-catching addition this summer.

Another key example is that of Jack Clarke, who joined on a permanent deal from Tottenham last year, and has since seen his stock and value rise dramatically.

How much did Sunderland buy Jack Clarke for?

Having earned promotion back to the Championship in 2022, Sunderland knew they needed to add quality to their front line and for the most part, utilised the loan market to bring in striker Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United and winger Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester United.

While Diallo enjoyed a successful loan in the North East, scoring 14 goals, their acquisition of Jack Clarke – for a fee believed to be in the region of £4.4m (€5.2m) – was their most impressive piece of business that summer.

The Englishman arrived at the club when his stock was at its lowest, becoming the victim of the £10m fee that Spurs forked out for him in 2019, suffering through three challenging loan spells at Leeds United, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City before finding a home at the Stadium of Light.

After breaking onto the scene as a 17-year-old at Leeds, Clarke quickly became renowned for his electric pace and precise dribbling, utilising those attributes to full effect by becoming one of the hottest prospects that the Championship has seen.

Now a maturing and more complete version of himself at 22-years-old, Clarke is showcasing the potential at Sunderland that his formative years promised.

How much is Jack Clarke worth now?

Sunderland took a gamble on a player they knew had serious potential, and it is paying off.

The 5 foot 9 whizz – who was described as a "diamond" by Mowbray – has proven the critics wrong by becoming one of the most explosive assets in the second tier, demonstrating that X Factor through his performances.

A player capable of getting bums off seats through his ferocious wing play, Clarke has added consistency in the final third to go with his excellent approach play, returning an impressive 21 goal contributions in 45 Championship appearances last season.

An ever-present in the starting XI, the youngster has continued where he left off this time round by taking on the mantle of scoring goals, currently joint-top of the scoring charts with five.

Clarke, is quite simply, in the form of his life and after scoring a brace against Blackburn Rovers, Mowbray lauded his performance as "amazing", a comment that reflects the attacking metrics he's produced so far this season.

The former Leeds academy graduate clearly excels in situations that see his ball-carrying abilities come to life, placing within the top 2% in the Championship this season against his positional peers for progressive carries, fouls drawn and successful take-ons while ranking in the top 7% for carries into the final third per 90, as per FBref.

A ball-carrying phenom, Clarke is one of the best in the Championship at taking the ball in his stride and driving at the opposition, so there was no wonder why multiple Premier League clubs were chasing him in the summer, with Burnley launching a £9m bid that was turned away.

If the £17k per-week star continues to shine brightest at the Stadium of Light, his £7.9m (€9.2m) value, as per Football Transfers, will no doubt continue to rise.

Glasgow Rangers hit an all-time low on Thursday evening, losing 2-1 to Aris Limassol, a side who are currently ranked 195th in the continent, behind clubs such as Wigan Athletic and Arminia Bielefeld, putting it into perspective in regard to just how woeful a result it was.

Michael Beale was relieved of his duties last Sunday after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in the Premiership and the Gers' chances at securing a first league crown since 2021 appear to be all but over, and it is only October.

Heading into the 2023/24 season, Beale had embarked on a major overhaul during the summer transfer window which saw nine new arrivals join the club, while crowd favourites such as Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent all left at the end of their contracts.

These new signings were supposed to herald in a new era for the club, one which was to be filled with success and a return to the summit of Scottish football, unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out that way.

Why was Michael Beale sacked by Rangers?

To put it simply, his lack of identity or any sort of playing style meant the Light Blues showed no progression on the field of play, leading to poor results.

Indeed, the club have won only eight games from 16 during the current season, a terrible record and perhaps one which could’ve been avoided had Beale given some of his new signings more chances, with Danilo being a great example.

The 5 foot 8 Brazilian striker joined from Feyenoord for a fee in the region of £6m following a season where he netted 14 goals across all competitions, winning the Eredivisie title in the process.

He was even lauded as an “amazing instinctive finisher” by Dutch football expert Melvin Dupper, further indicating how impressive a player he was.

It certainly looked like a shrewd move bringing him to Ibrox, yet he has started just four games so far during his Gers career, playing ten times in total. The striker has been let down by Beale and if the former QPR boss had more confidence in his biggest summer signing, perhaps the Gers wouldn’t be in this mess.

The club now need a manager who can not only get a tune out of the club stalwarts such as James Tavernier and Connor Goldson but also get Danilo fit and firing as he has the quality which could prove to be a danger in the final third.

Who has been linked with the Rangers job?

Former Light Blues defender Kevin Muscat – who played for the club during their treble winning 2002/03 campaign – has shown interest in the vacant role at the club and reportedly interviewed for the position just a few days ago. The Australian is currently managing Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos and has won league titles in both Japan and Australia during his managerial career.

Pascal Jansen, the AZ Alkmaar boss, is also reportedly eager to be the next boss of the club having enjoyed a decent spell at the Eredivisie side since taking over AZ in December 2020, frequently mixing with the big three of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.

Philippe Clement, a three time title winner in Belgium, could potentially be a left field appointment as he is now a free agent following his sacking from AS Monaco just a few months ago yet one name hasn’t really come to the fore yet must be included in potential options – Kjetil Knutsen.

Who is Kjetil Knutsen?

New York Times journalist Rory Smith was speaking on the BBC Radio 5 Live Monday Night Club just a day after Beale was sacked and named the Bodo/Glimt head coach as one of the potential names who is under “consideration” for the post.

The 55-year-old has impressed during his spell with the Norwegian outfit, holding a two points per game average while winning 144 of the 244 matches he has coached at the club.

He has led them to two top flight titles and they are currently closing in on a third title in four years and this winning mentality would be a huge advantage should he take over at the club in the coming weeks.

Although a slightly left field choice, Knutsen has already secured two victories over Celtic, winning both legs of their Europa League intermediate stage clash during the 2021/22 season and this will endear him to the Gers support. He even defeated Jose Mourinho’s Roma side in the group stages during the same competition.

Could Kjetil Knutsen bring out the best of Danilo at Rangers?

Famed for his attacking approach, Knutsen could bring the Gers back having some sort of identity and his tactical style has been praised by many, including his own captain Ulrik Saltnes, who said his style of play was “kamikaze” and this could bode well for Danilo.

He usually deploys an attacking 4-3-3 setup, which could work out well for the Brazilian, who would be able to operate in the middle of a front three, flanked by two pacy wingers or creative talents.

This system enabled Bodo/Glimt to score a staggering 103 goals in their title win back in 2020 as the coach clearly gave his players plenty of attacking freedom and there are quite a few talented attackers in the Rangers team who require this licence to showcase their abilities.

Knutsen would certainly bring out the Danilo who scored ten goals in the Dutch top flight last season and maybe even spur him on to bigger numbers for the rest of the current season.

James Bisgrove has a massive decision to make soon, and it could potentially change the fortunes of the Ibrox side for the foreseeable future.

There appears to be no shortage of candidates who have put themselves forward in the running, but the quiet Norwegian may just be one of the better options out there at the moment.

He may not be a big name, but this doesn’t really matter if he can prove it on the field. Ange Postecoglou was hardly well known to European audiences, yet his impact at Celtic ensured they won five out of six domestic trophies.

It would be a gamble, but nothing good ever comes from remaining in the comfort zone and Bisgrove must take note of this when casting his eye over potential successors to Beale.