Michael Beale is the hot favourite to take over at Rangers and return to Ibrox as manager after the club sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst – and here are three Aston Villa players Beale could look to take to Rangers, if he joins.
Of course, Beale left with Steven Gerrard towards the end of 2021 to join Aston Villa. But after less than a year at Villa, he left Gerrard’s coaching staff to embark on his own managerial career at QPR. Rangers are clearly impressed.
He is well-liked at Rangers. The Record claim Rangers are keen and Beale is interested in returning to the club where he spent more than three years as a coach. January is approaching, and here are three Villa players he could sign:
Morgan Sanson
The French ace has endured a dismal spell at Villa. Starring for Marseille, he joined Villa for £16m in January 2021. Since then, he has managed just 21 appearances. His only outing this term came as a late sub in Unai Emery’s first game.
Rangers need better quality in midfield. Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and John Lundstram are good options, but the Gers lack a real goalscorer and playmaker from the middle of the park. Sanson would be perfect – perhaps on a loan deal.
Cameron Archer
In the summer, 90Min claimed Rangers were looking at 20-year-old Archer. It comes after the versatile attacker scored seven goals in 20 games on loan at Preston – and has four senior goals in 13 appearances for Villa. But he needs a loan.
He has serious potential, but he needs game time to get that experience under his belt. He is going to struggle to get that at Villa – given the options they have in the final third. So, again, a loan to Rangers would suit Beale and the club.
Calum Chambers
Beale will recognise that the main area that requires improvement is in the middle of the defence. Connor Goldson’s injury has highlighted the need for recruitment. James Sands is a midfielder. Leon King is still very much a rookie.
Signings Ben Davies and John Souttar have not worked out and Filip Helander continues to remain a prominent figure on the treatment table. Chambers, meanwhile, is some way down the pecking order and would surely be tempted.
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