Rangers manager Phillipe Clement makes Mohamed Diomande transfer admission at Ibrox
Philippe Clement has accepted that Mohamed Diomande is too talented to remain at Rangers for the long term.
Rangers signed Diomande from FC Nordsjaelland on an initial loan in the January transfer window with an obligation to buy in the summer.
The 22-year-old midfielder has impressed in his five appearances so far, most recently in the 5-0 win over Hearts, but Clement can see him moving on one day.
“Diomande is a high-potential player and I don’t think Rangers will be his last step,” Clement said at Tuesday’s (27 February) press conference, as shared by Rangers’ Twitter account.
“He has talent and the right mentality to work for the team and those are the things you are looking for.”
Asked if Diomande “can reach the top”, Clement responded: “I think so”.
Mohamed Diomande set to sign four-year deal at Rangers
Diomande has already scored a couple of great goals since arriving from Nordsjaelland for what will be a fee of around £4.5million.
In truth, not a massive amount was known about the Ivorian prior to him being linked last month.
We were told that he can play multiple midfield positions and has an eye for goal, and so that has proved in his early weeks at Ibrox.
The Gers have the right to tie Diomande down until 2028, so if he does move on in the next couple of years it will likely be for a big fee.
The club have made it clear that this is now the transfer approach they will go for, and it is a system that can work in the long term.
Selling Diomande is clearly not in anyone’s thoughts at this stage, though – not least because he is technically not even our player yet.
As with any signing, the dream scenario is to get multiple great years out of a player before they move on for a profit.
That is no different with Diomande, and at least Clement has been open and honest about that.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd named five Gers players in his Team of the Week and singled one of those out.
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