An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale and his plans for the upcoming January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to Football Insider, the new Light Blues head coach is plotting a swoop to sign out-of-favour Fulham central midfielder Josh Onomah.

The report claims that the Englishman was keen on signing him for his former club last summer and now wants to link up with him at Ibrox.

It is stated his contract expires at the end of the season and that a number of English Championship sides are also in the race to land his signature.

Scott Arfield upgrade

Beale could land an upgrade on current central midfielder Scott Arfield by securing a deal to sign Onomah next month, as the former Canada international has struggled for consistency this season.

The veteran has scored twice and provided one assist in 15 Premiership outings, averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.72, and providing just one goal and zero assists in four Champions League appearances.

This comes after he managed four goals and zero assists in 41 matches across the Scottish top-flight and Europa League combined in the 2021/22 campaign.

Onomah, meanwhile, has scored four goals and assisted six goals in 28 Championship starts for Fulham in his last two seasons in the second tier of English football, but has been restricted to two outings in the Premier League this term.

His statistics in the second division suggest that he would offer a similar goal threat to Arfield but would be a significant upgrade from a creative perspective, as the former Tottenham man has shown that he can create chances for his teammates whilst playing in the middle of the park.

Journalist Josh Bunting claimed in 2020 that he has "huge potential" and, at the age of 25, the magician still has plenty of time left to live up to that claim and joining Rangers could be the springboard he needs to propel his game to the next level.

Arfield, meanwhile, turned 34 in November and is in the latter stages of his career and has gone past his peak, which is backed up by his disappointing performances since the start of last season.

Therefore, Onomah could be a big upgrade on the current Gers midfielder as he has the potential to make a bigger impact in the final third whilst also being nine years younger and having the scope to develop into a better player. As a result, he could have a bigger influence on the pitch for Beale's team as he gains more experience.