Philippe Clement’s Rangers endgame for Todd Cantwell and Mohamed Diomande

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Philippe Clement’s Rangers endgame for Todd Cantwell and Mohamed Diomande
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 03: Todd Cantwell of Rangers is seen during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Rangers FC and St. Mirren FC at Ibrox Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

With reports that FC Nordsjælland’s Mohamed Diomande is to be Philippe Clement’s second winter window signing, the talented 22-year-old, while perhaps not signed for the most critical position in theory, is evidently a worthwhile addition anyway and comes highly-rated by pretty much everyone.

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But what’s the endgame here?

Some Rangers fans believe Diomande is in fact something of a ‘replacement’ for Todd Cantwell, which is not really how football actually works.

To be clear, he is a central-to-attacking midfielder, not a million miles off the position of ex-Rangers-now-Leeds man Glen Kamara – technically good, quick, and playing mostly in the second-to-last third of the pitch but equally comfortable deeper.

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The area of advanced midfield, behind the attack, where he can use his pace and movement as well as vision to good effect, but by trade primarily a CM.

In many senses, Cantwell’s slot.

The thing is, there is a lot of word that Cantwell really isn’t Clement’s favourite player, and if we’re honest, the ex-Norwich man has been modest at best this season.

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If Diomande comes in and nicks his place, offering more, no one would be unhappy with that.

The fact is Rangers need to be better, stronger – this is a talented player, on the cusp of a call up for his national team, and quality like this can only do that.

If it means Todd Cantwell or anyone else is benched in pursuit of Rangers being better, that works for us.

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But as we said, that’s not how it works.

You sign players to improve your squad, you don’t specifically seek to replace any one player unless he leaves, and it is simply the act of making Rangers a better team.

No one could sanely argue Rangers have a great squad which requires no improvement.

Even Real and Barca and Citeh need to improve.

If Diomande does that, we’re all for it.

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