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Attentions turn away from the January transfer window for Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst as his side returns to Premiership action on Tuesday night at Ibrox.

The Gers face up against Livingston in the league as they look to bounce back from a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in their last outing in the competition, a game in which Ryan Kent was shown a red card.

Rangers beat League Two outfit Stirling Albion in their most recent competitive match, winning 4-0 in their Scottish Cup tie last Friday.

How many changes will van Bronckhorst make to the team? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that he will make seven alterations to the side, with Allan McGregor, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara, James Sands, Scott Wright and Alfredo Morelos coming in.

Starting off between the sticks, McGregor could return to replace Jon McLaughlin after the Gers number two was given a run out on Friday. Van Bronckhorst has selected the former in all of his Premiership matches in charge of the club to date.

In the back four, Bassey and Barisic could regain their places alongside James Tavernier and Connor Goldson. They both started the draw with Aberdeen and were handed a rest for the cup clash.

John Lundstram could be axed from the midfield as part of two changes to the three in the middle. The £22k-per-week dud has only started eight games this term and we are not predicting that to change. Van Bronckhorst could start Sands for his home debut in the Premiership after he impressed against the Dons, with Kamara lining up next to him and Juninho Bacuna.

On the wings, Ryan Kent remains suspended and will be unable to line up on the left, with Fashion Sakala keeping his place in the XI. Ianis Hagi’s injury means that there is a spot on the right flank and Scott Wright could fill that after starting the last Premiership outing against Aberdeen.

Finally, Morelos could take Cedric Itten’s place at the top end of the pitch. The Colombian has six goals and two assists in nine games under van Bronckhorst, which shows that he has been thriving under the Dutchman’s management and that is why we are predicting him to start through the middle.

AND in other news, Forget Hagi: GVB must solve Rangers nightmare with “pure” £4.5m-rated “innate talent”…

Swedish side IFK Goteborg have made an enquiry for Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, Anthony Joseph reports.

The Lowdown: Breakdown with the Blades

Barkas appears to be surplus to requirements at Celtic Park and could become the second shot-stopper to leave the club this month after Conor Hazard.

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The Greece international has featured just twice under Ange Postecoglou and was recently linked with a move to Sheffield United.

However, talks broke down between the two clubs due to Celtic’s demands over a loan move, with the Blades going on to sign Adam Davies instead.

The Latest: Joseph’s post

Joseph took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to share a fresh update on Barkas and a possible late exit.

He revealed details of Goteborg’s enquiry and admitted that Celtic are open to offers for the 6 foot 4 colossus.

“IFK Goteborg have made a loan enquiry for Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas.

“It’s understood the Swedish club would need Celtic to pay for the bulk of his wages, if the move was to go ahead.

“The Hoops are open to offers for the Greece international.”

The Verdict: Time to go

Barkas, thought to be on £9,000-a-week, has featured in just two Scottish Premiership matchday squads all season. He clearly isn’t fancied by Postecoglou, so moving him out on loan for the remainder of the campaign could be a good idea.

Allowing him to play regular football could then help the club when it comes to selling him permanently, with Barkas still under contract in Glasgow until 2024.

Celtic may not recoup the £4.5m they spent on the 27-year-old, with his Transfermarkt valuation dropping to just £1.35m, but a solid second half of the season in Sweden may benefit all involved.

In other news: In the coming days – Celtic now eye ‘very clever’ teenager who could go out on loan – journalist.

Leeds United are showing late interest over a move for Liverpool target Fabio Carvalho, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Liverpool in pole position

The Reds saw a deadline day move for the Fulham man collapse, however, they are still working on a cut-price deal that would go through in the summer.

Carvalho, who has been described as ‘lively’, is out of contract in the summer, with Liverpool officials scheduling new talks with the forward’s camp this month.

The attacking midfielder had already agreed on personal terms and passed a medical regarding a move to Anfield, but it now seems as if Leeds are keen.

The Latest: Leeds interest

According to Football Insider, Liverpool will hold fresh talks with Fulham this month as they look to strike terms for Carvalho in advance of the summer window.

Liverpool want a deal in place as soon as possible as they are aware that Leeds, Southampton and West Ham are showing a strong interest.

The Verdict: Unlikely

Leeds are confident of securing a move for main target Brenden Aaronson this summer, but a swoop for Carvalho looks less likely.

The youngster seemingly has his heart set on a move to Anfield and Liverpool are still extremely keen despite a move falling through last Monday.

Fulham would also benefit by agreeing on a deal now instead of going down the tribunal route, so Victor Orta would need to pull off a masterclass to bring Carvalho to Yorkshire.

He needs to act fast if he wishes to do so, as well, following those reports of more talks this month between the two clubs.

In other news: Leeds beast who Harvey Elliott recently praised may now leave permanently in summer – journalist. 

Glasgow Rangers have now been dealt a fresh injury blow before they play Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup away from home on Saturday evening.

The Lowdown: Hagi injury

Last month, Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed that Hagi will be out for the rest of the season, after having to have an operation on his knee.

It was news that the Ibrox faithful did not take well at all, and now there has been a rather cruel update on the young playmaker’s future recovery.

The Latest: Next season too

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, van Bronckhorst has now revealed a fresh update on the midfielder – Hagi will ‘likely’ miss the start of next season as well, as he continues his rehabilitation from his knee problem:

“Hagi is likely to miss the start of the season, hopefully, his recovery will go smoothly.”

The Verdict: Big blow

It certainly is a big blow that Hagi will miss not just the rest of this season, but likely the start of the next one too.

He is clearly such an important player for the side, having scored four goals and supplied a further four assists in 27 games in total over all competitions this term (Transfermarkt).

He ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average shots, key passes, crosses and through balls per match in the Scottish Premiership (WhoScored), and without him they lack a true number ten.

Nonetheless, Teddy Bears supporters will now wish him well, and hope that he can back from his long-term injury in good shape to help them challenge on multiple fronts in 2022/23.

In other news, find out what ‘worrying’ Gers update has left this former SPFL man ‘gutted’ here!

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst will have plenty on his mind at the moment with his side still competing in the Premiership, Europa League and Scottish Cup.

The Dutchman may also have one eye on the summer transfer window as they look to further shape his squad after his January additions.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to Ibrox at the end of the campaign is MK Dons attacking midfielder Scott Twine. He is reportedly attracting interest from the Scottish giants, with Burnley and Norwich also said to be keen.

Aribo masterclass

The Gers can repeat a masterclass by signing Twine as it could be a similar transfer to the one they completed for Joe Aribo. They trawled through the lower leagues in England to pick up the midfielder on a free transfer from League One side Charlton Athletic in 2019.

He had just come off the back of scoring 10 goals and providing five assists from midfield for the Addicks in the third tier of English football and still had room to grow as he was in his early 20’s.

The Nigerian international has since gone on to score 23 goals and produce 22 assists in 128 outings for Rangers in the last two-and-a-half seasons. In the Premiership this term, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.11 and this shows that he is able to deliver consistently brilliant displays in the top-flight, which is why he has been a masterstroke of a signing for the club.

In Twine, they could find a player with a similar profile from the same division. The 22-year-old has racked up an impressive 13 goals and nine assists in 31 League One outings for MK Dons this season, showing that he is playing to a similar level in comparison to where Aribo was at Charlton at roughly the same age. Therefore, he could potentially come in at Rangers and also have a big impact on the side.

His former Swindon boss Phil Brown stated that he is “going to blossom” as a player, whilst his current boss Liam Manning dubbed him a “constant threat” and these comments highlight the potential he holds. He is already performing to an impressive level in League One at the age of 22 and Brown’s prediction suggests that he could follow Aribo’s footsteps.

Therefore, they could repeat their masterclass with the Nigerian by securing a deal to sign Twine in the summer transfer window. Ross Wilson and van Bronckhorst must ensure that they can snap him up as his statistics and profile suggest that he could be a terrific addition to the squad in the short and long term, much like Aribo was/is.

AND in other news, 100% dribble success: Rangers dynamo was Gio’s 60-touch unsung hero on Thursday…

Leeds United replacing Marcelo Bielsa with Jesse Marsch at this stage of the season is a ‘gamble’, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Big news at Elland Road

The American has become the latest person to sit in the Elland Road hot-seat, having replaced Marcelo Bielsa as manager on Monday evening.

It is a significant moment in Leeds’ recent history, with Bielsa a much-loved figure at the club and many left devastated by his controversial, if arguably understandable, sacking.

Marsch now has 12 Premier League games to steer the Whites away from relegation, if he is to avoid the grim task of masterminding a return straight back to the top flight next season.

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The Latest: Hay discusses potential ‘gamble’

Writing in a Q&A for The Athletic following the big news, Hay admitted it is a risk to make such a change at a key point in the campaign:

“The first thing to say is that nobody at Leeds would deny that this is a gamble – not the appointment of Jesse Marsch specifically but the change of head coach with 12 games to go. Andrea Radrizzani’s interview on Twitter this evening left no doubt that the board had lost faith in Marcelo Bielsa, something Bielsa’s sacking made very clear anyway.”

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The Verdict: Time will tell

Opinion will always likely be split regarding Bielsa’s dismissal, with some feeling it was too hasty and others claiming Leeds’ run of form was simply too bad to continue with the Argentine’s services.

Marsch has the unenviable job of having to hit the ground running, with the Whites now only two points clear of 18th-placed Burnley having played two games more.

For now, it is a case of Leeds’ new manager inspiring his side to safety without a huge amount of time to implement his methods fully, before having the summer to fully make his mark, hopefully ahead of another year in the Premier League.

In other news, Leeds have been backed to sign an exciting player this summer. Find out who it is here.

David Moyes’ West Ham United side head into tonight’s FA Cup clash with Southampton on the back of a much-needed win, with the Hammers’ defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 on Sunday – a result which saw their push for a top-four finish get well and truly back on track.

However, with a challenging fixture against Liverpool coming up this weekend, as well as the extremely tough task of visiting Sevilla in the Europa League round of 16 next week, it would not be surprising to see the Scot field a heavily rotated side at St. Mary’s.

So, how many changes will Moyes make to the team that started the victory over Wolves last weekend? Here’s how we think West Ham could line up against Saints, as well as the latest team and injury news…

With David Moyes recently revealing that he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to the South Coast – although Vladimir Coufal, Ryan Fredericks, Arthur Masuaku and Angelo Ogbonna remain sidelined, while Andriy Yarmolenko is also a doubt – we predict that Moyes will make seven changes to the side that lined up against Wolves on Sunday.

The first of these changes comes between the sticks, with the £138k-per-week Alphonse Areola – who Peter Drury one dubbed “remarkable” – taking the place of Lukasz Fabianski, as has typically been the case in cup competitions this season.

In defence, Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson start at left and right-back respectively, while 21-year-old Aji Alese – dubbed “gold dust” by Tom Edwards – is handed a rare start alongside Issa Diop at centre-back.

In midfield, Mark Noble comes in alongside Declan Rice in the middle of the park, while Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini make way for Nikola Vlasic and Said Benrahma on the left and in the number 10 role, with Jarrod Bowen starting on the right.

Up top, promising 18-year-old centre-forward Sonny Perkins is handed just his second senior start of the campaign, while Michail Antonio is handed a well-earned break amongst the substitutes.

In other news: £14.5m wasted: Pellegrini’s £75k-p/w “shocker” has been rinsing West Ham for 191 weeks

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has left Everton in a precarious position, following sanctions from the UK and EU on the club’s main sponsor Alisher Usmanov, leading to the suspension of the club’s dealings with his businesses.

What’s the news?

While the squad, or the plans for the new stadium, reportedly haven’t been affected by the sanctions of Usmanov, the Daily Mail have reported that clubs could look to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding their financial situation by potentially luring key players Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jordan Pickford for potentially cheaper than what they would usually be worth.

Transfermarkt rate the trio at just under £113m, with Richarlison being valued at £49.5m, Calvert-Lewin at £40.5m and England number one Pickford at £22.5m, but Everton manager Frank Lampard will surely be desperate to not sell any of them on the cheap, if at all.

Too valuable to the club

Brazil international Richarlison, who is interesting the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, has had a direct involvement in seven Premier League goals this season, having played just 17 games. He has also been thoroughly impressive with his work rate on the pressing side of his game, ranking in the top 3% among forwards for pressures per 90 (21.96) across Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions.

Meanwhile, England striker Calvert-Lewin – who is reportedly catching the eyes of Newcastle United and Manchester United – is a unique talent, standing at 6 foot 2 but possessing superb athleticism with a phenomenal jumping reach. That is evident in the fact that he ranks in the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90 with 4.9, as well as ranking in the top 19% for expected goals per 90, with 0.56.

Finally, Pickford – who has been a transfer target for Tottenham recently – is among the top 18% for saves per 90 with 3.3. The 27-year-old has kept 47 Premier League clean sheets since joining the Toffees from Sunderland back in 2017 for £25m.

The trio are not just Everton’s three most valuable players according to TransferMarkt, they are also among their best performers of the season according to WhoScored. Indeed, Calvert-Lewin leads the performance rankings as per the website’s metrics, a strong indicator of his importance at Goodison Park.

Should Lampard need to sell them in the summer for potentially far less than he feels they are worth due to the issues surrounding Usmanov, the 43-year-old could be headed for his first big disaster in charge of Everton, given how chastening it could be to lose such a crucial trio for cut-price fees.

In other news – Forget Richarlison: “Inspirational” star with 29 key passes has been Everton’s hero this season

Celtic have picked up some significant transfer fees for some of their key players over recent years such as Odsonne Edouard, Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele among others.

One other player that the Parkhead club cashed in on that has proved to have been a great call from the Hoops is Adam Matthews.

Signed from Cardiff City back in the 2011 summer transfer window for a fee of £200k, the defender ended up making 150 appearances for the Bhoys across all competitions.

In those appearances, the £17k-per-week right-back scored five goals and delivered 22 assists before joining Sunderland in the 2015 summer window.

Sold for a reported fee of £2m, the Hoops made a significant profit on the player after four years of service at Celtic Park.

With 67 appearances for the Black Cats and two loan spells with Bristol City to his name, the Welshman was released from the Wearside club in the 2019 summer transfer window.

Not long after that, the former Hoops figure joined Charlton Athletic as a free agent, where he has since played in 87 games.

According to Transfermarkt, the full-back is currently valued at £540k, which is not only significantly lower than the transfer fee that Celtic picked up for him but also lower than the value of £2.7m that he was rated at during his days with the Hoops.

Having claimed to have “had issues” with his hamstrings by Lee Johnson, Matthews was plagued by numerous injury problems at Celtic.

This season has seen Matthews play in 26 League One games for the Addicks but only earn himself a rather uninspiring overall performance rating of 6.53/10 from WhoScored.

To further highlight how disappointing he’s been in this campaign, the Wales international has only been able to average 0.7 tackles and interceptions per game, which is rather unimpressive for a defender.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that Celtic made the right call in cashing in on the player when they did, as his value has decreased with every season gone by.

Also, with Celtic currently having the best defensive record in the SPFL under Ange Postecoglou, it doesn’t seem likely that many Bhoys fans will have been wishing they still had Matthews in their side.

AND in other news: Postecoglou must now unleash £10.5k-p/w Celtic “solider,” he could be a game-changer

Today sees West Bromwich Albion take on Reading in both teams’ penultimate match of the regular Championship season.

To be frank, neither team has anything much to play for, with Reading now mathematically safe and West Brom nowhere near the play-off places.

However, having had his future cleared up, Baggies manager Steve Bruce will not see it that way and will instead be looking for some inspired performances from his players, who will be looking to build some momentum to take into next season.

In terms of injuries, Conor Townsend is a doubt for today, but luckily it is not through injury, with the 29-year-old on standby to attend the birth of his child, which is due any day now.

According to Bruce, Albion academy graduate Zac Ashworth will be in the squad, with the 19-year-old likely to take Townsend’s place, as per West Brom News.

Baggies fans will be glad to know that there are no new injury concerns heading into the match against Paul Ince’s side.

With the latest news in mind, here is how we at Football Fan Cast expect West Bromwich Albion to line up against Reading today.

West Brom XI – Button; Ajayi, O’Shea, Clarke; Reach, Livermore, Molumby, Ashworth; Gardner-Hickman; Carroll, Grant

We expect the team to line-up in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Our prediction sees just one change from the side which started against Coventry City last time out, with 19-year-old academy graduate Ashworth – who has been dubbed “excellent” by Joe Chapman – coming in for the “dependable” Townsend, in the words of Kieran Doody.

With nothing to play for in these last two games, Bruce can afford to give youth prospects like Ashworth an opportunity to assert himself in the Baggies’ first-team.

Up top, Andy Carroll will be hoping to make the manager rue the decision over his contract renewal if he is to start today, with the 33-year-old set to be released at the end of the season after it was reported by The Athletic that Bruce would not offer him a new contract.

In other news: West Brom now eyeing move for “super” £42k-p/w ace, supporters will love it…