Glasgow Rangers transfer business has been a major cause for concern since the summer of 2021.
Plenty of managers have come and gone during that time, but not one has been able to say they enjoyed success in the transfer market.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst spent big on the likes of Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, and Ridvan Yilmaz, but they have hardly set the world on fire at Ibrox.
Michael Beale also had money to spend, but like his predecessor, it was wasted on flops such as Sam Lammers and Jose Cifuentes, who are now playing elsewhere.
Last summer, Robin Propper and Nedim Bajrami arrived in Glasgow under Philippe Clement, but they also failed to live up to the hype generated upon their move to Scotland.
Of course, not every signing has been poor. Nico Raskin has emerged as one of the club’s best players this season, winning the club’s Player of the Year. Todd Cantwell was solid in spells, while Hamza Igamane could generate a profit for the Light Blues following a stunning debut campaign.
Perhaps the player who could become one of the most important for the club is Mohamed Diomande, who has gone about his business without much fanfare since joining in January 2024, initially on loan.
Mohamed Diomande has been a great signing for Rangers
The Ivorian midfielder joined the Gers on a six-month loan deal in the 2024 winter window, which would become permanent that summer for a fee in the region of £4.3m.
It was a gamble, especially with the money involved, but the move turned out to be a success.
He showed glimpses of his ability during the loan spell, scoring twice in 19 games, grabbing an assist too, and it looked as though he could become a key figure in Clement’s midfield.
Able to operate either as a number ten or in a slightly deeper role, Diomande’s ability to run with the ball and glide past opponents ensures he is a success in either of these roles.
With the likes of Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence likely to leave this summer, a space for someone like Diomande to play higher up the pitch could be available regularly. This season, the 23-year-old has scored six and registered nine assists in all competitions for the Light Blues.
His game is well-suited to a more advanced role. When compared to his positional peers across the Europa League this season, the midfielder ranks in the top 6% for assists (0.23) and in the top 11% for successful take-ons (1.14) per 90.
He has still to reach his peak years as a player, and if Rangers can keep hold of Diomande under the new manager, he could become the new fulcrum of the team.
Whoever does take charge of the Glasgow giants on a permanent basis will be keen on making their own signings. It appears as though the 49ers Enterprises have earmarked a Brazilian midfielder as one of the first of a new era this summer.
Rangers need a new midfielder
Several names have already been linked with a move to Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window opening in a few weeks.
The 49ers will be aiming to build a side that can challenge Celtic for domestic dominance, hoping that the club will return to the summit of Scottish football once again.
According to the Scottish Sun last week, the Light Blues have earmarked Basel loanee Metinho as a top target this summer.
He is currently valued a £4m, which is a significant outlay for the club. A potential move could depend on whether the new manager can raise funds by selling some deadwood.
He will return to his parent club, Troyes, when the season finishes, but with Championship clubs showing interest, acting swiftly will be key.
With Raskin being touted for a move to England this summer, the 49ers will need to replace the Belgian international sufficiently.
If Metinho arrives in Scotland, he could fill the gap left by Raskin, which, in turn, would allow him to thrive with Diomande in the midfield.
Why Rangers must sign Metinho
Metinho came through the Fluminense academy and was one of the best prospects of his generation.
Indeed, in 2021, he was lauded by SelecaoTalk, who said: “Brazil’s best from his generation. He’s called ‘Little Pogba’.”
“He’s got everything, so complete. Very similar to Gerson who also came through the Fluminense academy.”
Moving to Europe later that year, the Brazilians struggled to make much of an impact. An 18-month loan spell at Sparta Rotterdam saw him demonstrate glimpses of his talent.
Metric (per 90)
Raskin
Metinho
Tackles
2.9
3
Interceptions
0.7
1.1
Possession lost
10.1
6.2
Total duels won
6.6
4.7
Balls recovered
5.7
4.5
Accurate passes
46.7
29.3
It wasn’t until moving to Basel earlier this year, however, that the 22-year-old finally matured enough to perform consistently well.
Operating at the heart of the midfield, Metinho has played a solid role in the club winning their first league title since 2017.
Across ten matches, he averages three tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game domestically, while also recovering 4.5 balls per game for the Swiss side.
Furthermore, his ability to retain possession is excellent, losing the ball just 6.2 times per game. The midfielder even wins an impressive 4.7 total duels per game – a success rate of 66% – for Basel.
These statistics would not only make a solid replacement for Raskin, but also someone who could work well deployed behind Diomande at the base of the midfield.
As evidenced, the Ivorian star looks better when playing in a more advanced role. Having someone like Metinho mopping up everything behind him would certainly give Diomande plenty of freedom to attack.
Much will depend on the finances available to the new manager this summer. If the Brazilian is still available for around £4m by the time he arrives at Ibrox, it is a move which could be worth pursuing.
He could be a player who may generate a magnificent profit in the years to come for the Glasgow side.
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