Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale is eyeing up his first signing for the Ibrox club by potentially swooping for a talented youngster excelling in the Portuguese second tier…

What’s the news?

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are interested in a £500k move for Benedito Mambuene Mukendi, an Angolan midfielder who plays for Trofense in Portugal and is also known as Beni.

The 20-year-old's contract expires next summer, and it seems that Michael Beale will try to force Trofense's hand by submitting an offer in order to fend off interest from other prospective suitors.

It certainly looks like the 42-year-old is aiming to bring plenty of youngsters to Ibrox, and the African midfielder fits the bill of what the Premiership club are seeking.

Scott Arfield's replacement?

Beale faces a situation at Rangers where, as it stands, eight permanent first-team players will be out of contract by the end of the season, most notably Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

His priority will be to keep the club's prized assets in Glasgow for as long as possible, although certain players should be released in the summer, with Arfield - one of those whose deal expires next year - among them.

The 34-year-old has been at Rangers since 2018 and has made 214 appearances in that time, winning the Premiership title and Scottish Cup. However, his influence has waned this season and performances have duly declined.

The midfielder has been particularly out of his depth in the Champions League, averaging a Sofascore rating of just 6.5/10, taking a mere 28 touches per match and losing possession nine times per game.

Mukendi may be young, but he seems to have a bright future ahead of him, and his talent deserves to shine on a higher stage than the second tier in Portugal.

The youngster has already made 40 senior appearances for Trofense, registering two assists. If he joins Rangers, it's likely that he would slot into the B team initially before eventually staking a claim for a first-team spot if all goes well.

Beale has a pedigree for coaching young talent, previously taking charge of Liverpool's U23s; and having said when he was first appointed as Rangers boss that he would give youth prospects a chance, a move for Mukendi may prove to be an inspired one as he ideally replaces Arfield next year.