Mohamed Diomande question raised after what’s happened at Rangers
Andy Newport has questioned Mohamed Diomande’s potential at Rangers after a drop-off in form.
The Gers got the 23-year-old on loan with an obligation to buy for £4.5million from FC Nordsjaelland [Rangers Review, 26 November] in January and, since then, he has grown into Philippe Clement’s plans.
Diomande started for the Light Blues in their 1-1 draw against Dundee United on 23 November but was substituted at half-time, and speaking on Hotline Live [27 November], Daily Record journalist Newport raised concerns about the Ivory Coast international.
“I look at Mohamed Diomande. So much was expected of him when he comes in last January – £4.5m they spent on him. He was absolutely a mile off the pace at the weekend,” he said.
“And I think with somebody like him, you can go, ‘What’s happened here?’ because when he first came in, he gets those couple of goals against Hearts and St Johnstone. And he looks like a real find. There’s been spells where he had looked a real prospect. His form has sort of vanished.”
Mohamed Diomande poor in Rangers v Dundee United
Diomande played 45 minutes against the Tangerines and was rightly hooked off by Clement at the break and replaced by Ianis Hagi.
The Ivorian was non-existent in the first half, with an xA of just 0.02, an 83 per cent passing accuracy — giving the ball away in precarious situations — and created zero chances, as per FotMob.
In 19 appearances in all competitions this season, the midfielder has found the back of the net just once and has provided three assists.
What’s been frustrating for the Ibrox faithful to see is the 23-year-old’s inconsistency, and if that continues, then it’s difficult to envision the playmaker having a long career at the Gers.
Hagi’s introduction, along with Danilo, provided the spark the Light Blues were missing in the first half against Jim Goodwin’s team.
With the amount that the Bears have spent on Diomande, he hasn’t shown his worth yet, and Clement needs to figure out a way to get the best out of the midfielder before he becomes one of the reasons for his dismissal.
In other Rangers news, Newport has reacted to the the sack news he saw regarding Clement.
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