Rangers face an uphill task to land a transfer target for Derek McInnes, according to Football Insider, in a potential swap deal for Nicolas Raskin.

It comes as the Ibrox outfit face the possibility of losing the Belgian midfielder as part of a larger change within the squad, following last season’s disappointing finish.

The arrival of McInnes, along with Lawrence Shankland, may create the fresh start that Rangers need to fire them back towards the Scottish Premiership.

However, more moves will be required. There are links for a few options, but that may only come with an exit or two from Rangers in the coming weeks.

Rangers Swap Deal For Lewis Ferguson

Rangers have been linked with a move for Lewis Ferguson, the Bologna star who has previously featured under McInnes during their time together at Aberdeen.

The reunion has appeared as a possibility, as the Serie A side are interested in Raskin, with negotiations planned to land the midfielder from Ibrox this summer.

The chance of a swap deal appears tough, however, as Football Insider claims that the complex move is “difficult”, as Ferguson’s availability remains a sticking point in discussions.

An issue remains about the valuation of the Scotland international, who is described as “expensive”, especially following his recent outing in the World Cup.

Interest is seemingly set to ramp up in the 26-year-old, but Rangers may find it increasingly tough to get an agreement for their latest transfer target.

That won’t seemingly impact a possible exit for Raskin, however, with Bologna among the teams expected to continue pursuing a move for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks of the transfer market.

How Much Rangers Want For Raskin

Rangers are still expected to lose Raskin this summer, regardless of whether it results in a potential swap deal with Bologna for Ferguson as his replacement.

The report from Football Insider claims a £20 million price tag has been placed on the Belgian international, as he continues to gain interest in his services.

Another Serie A side, Atalanta, have been linked with Raskin as a potential option this summer, and they likely won’t be the last to join the race.

It remains to be seen where he could end up, but Rangers will be keen to invest the funds well to give McInnes the best chance of succeeding next season.

FIFA have been called out by football fans after denying France’s request to honour Didier Deschamps’ late mother, Ginette, at the 2026 World Cup.

France defeated a weakened Norway side on Saturday afternoon at Boston Stadium to clinch top spot in Group I. Norway made 10 changes to their side that beat Senegal and Les Bleus took full advantage as they picked up all three points.

Ousmane Dembele scored a brilliant first-half hat-trick and Desire Doue got on the scoresheet in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to give the two-time world champions a 4-1 victory.

France manager Didier Deschamps was not present at the match after his mother passed away earlier this week. The French Football Federation (FFF) said in a statement on Tuesday:

“The national team coach was deeply saddened to learn this morning of the passing of his mother.

“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation, who is present at the French national team’s training camp, Didier Deschamps has entrusted his assistant, Guy Stephan, with the responsibility of leading the squad until his return. During this extremely painful time, we ask for your utmost respect and restraint.”

France Have Request to Honour Didier Deschamps’ Mother Denied By FIFA

REUTERS/Mandel Ngan

France had plans to honour Deschamps’ late mother for their match against Norway. They planned to wear black armbands in tribute to Ginette, but FIFA denied their request, according to The Athletic.

FIFA’s decision has not gone down well on social media, with many users on Reddit expressing their annoyance. One user said: ‘What could possibly be the reason to say no to that?’ while another stated: ‘Just when you think you can’t hate FIFA anymore…’

A third commented: ‘FIFA is a joke’ while a fourth wrote: ‘Would it kill FIFA to do something good for once?’

There was also confusion surrounding the minute’s silence. A minute’s silence was held before kick-off, with the FFF telling journalists that it was in tribute to Deschamps’ late mother.

However, they clarified shortly after that they were mistaken, with FIFA telling them the silence had been prearranged in honour of the victims of the Venezuelan earthquake.

Didier Deschamps To Return to France Squad

Lev Radin/Sipa USA via Reuters

Deschamps’ assistant, Stephan, revealed after their victory against Norway that France’s long-serving manager would make his return this weekend. He said after the match, per the Mirror:

“The players did what they had to do [against Norway]. They were very affected by this loss. They heard Didier talk and tell them that he had to leave. They did hear that from Didier directly.

“They are very close to Didier and wanted to do something special on the pitch… I did congratulate them at the end of the match and said Didier will be back for the training session tomorrow and [before] the Round of 32.”

France, considered the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy for a third time on July 19, will face Sweden in the last 32 of the competition. If they come through that tie, a mouthwatering last 16 clash against Germany could be in store.

Arsenal face a new challenge to seal a deal for a wonderkid target this summer, as Premier League rivals have now joined the race for their signature, according to BBC Sport.

The Gunners are planning for the future, having won the league title for the first time in 22 years, with plans to repeat that feat for many years to come.

While there is a blend of peak-age players with some younger talents, Mikel Arteta appears keen to add further depth to the youth ranks for the future, handing the team even more opportunities to secure long-term options.

One target that hits that criteria is a Paris Saint-Germain youngster, who Arsenal are now facing a fight to land this summer.

Bournemouth Join Emmanuel Mbemba Transfer Race

Arsenal have been seeking out a possible deal to sign PSG youngster Emmanuel Mbemba on a free transfer at the end of his contract this summer.

The 18-year-old is a defender who can play as a left-back and a centre-back, having shown great promise with the French champions during his time in their youth academy setup.

Arsenal have submitted a proposal in the hopes of landing Mbemba, but BBC Sport reports that Premier League rivals Bournemouth are looking to hijack a move.

It’s claimed that the Cherries have held initial talks over a deal, which would see him join the club and given a pathway through their sister club, Lorient.

It hands the youngster a clear pathway that may not be available at Arsenal, though the report claims that the Gunners’ offer has impressed him.

That leaves a key decision at the hands of the PSG wonderkid, who will seemingly have the pick of some top teams to join when he becomes a free agent in the coming weeks.

Arsenal’s Pathway Challenge

Given how strong the Arsenal squad is, with depth in every single position, it’s clear how much of a challenge it will be for the club to create a pathway for young stars.

While there are exceptions, like those for Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly, there have been challenges for stars such as Ethan Nwaneri.

It makes it a challenge for the Gunners to tempt some stars to the club, and that could prove costly in the race to land a player like Mbemba this window.

With Bournemouth’s clear pathway, through the use of their multi-club model, Arsenal may well be on the backfoot to prove they are the best destination for young stars.