Glasgow Rangers have now secured two midfielders during the January transfer window, with Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin arriving at Ibrox ahead of a crucial second half of the season.

There could potentially be more incomings, although Michael Beale has ruled out a move for Morgan Whittaker.

The 42-year-old Rangers boss was speaking to the media this morning regarding the Premiership club's pursuit of the Swansea player, saying: "There was just one bid that went in that got rejected. There’s been a lot of hot air around the situation. I think he’s a boy they like, that’s why they brought him back from Plymouth.

"They’ve obviously got their plans with him. I thought he was the most eye-catching player in League One this season and he’s gone back to Swansea, they’re probably looking at the league table and thinking he’s a valuable asset. There’s no problem with that, he’s a good player and I wish him and Swansea well."

Losing out on the 22-year-old represents a blow for Beale, but he could already have an ideal long-term solution waiting in the wings at Ibrox…

Zak Lovelace is an ideal Whittaker alternative

Lovelace signed for Rangers last summer as Giovanni van Bronckhorst was looking ahead to the future, and the 17-year-old is one of the most talented youngsters in the Light Blues' B team.

He made his official debut for Millwall at just 15 in 2021, becoming the club's second-youngest ever player in the process, and his talent was enough for Rangers to move for the teenager last year.

He hasn’t let the journey to Scotland's most successful club faze him, with the forward racking up the goals and assists for the B team this season by registering 22 goal contributions – 12 goals and ten assists – across just 31 matches.

He can play anywhere across the front three and, like Whittaker, he is a creative force who can score and set up chances for others with equal measure. Therefore, Beale could save Rangers millions by nurturing Lovelace and using him in the next couple of years as a viable alternative to the Swansea gem.

Van Bronckhorst even gave the Englishman his first-team debut during a League Cup tie against Queen of the South last August, with the then 16-year-old getting a taste of the famous Ibrox atmosphere.

Journalist Henry Tomlinson described the youngster as “promising” upon his move to Rangers, and his future could look extremely bright under Beale, who can forget about Whittaker and instead place his trust in the teenage gem already at Ibrox.