NafisaThe summer transfer window often provides clubs with an opportunity not only to strengthen their squads but also to uncover the next breakout talent before the rest of Europe catches on.
Rangers have already shown in recent years that investing in young defenders with high potential can pay significant dividends, particularly when those players are given the platform to develop at Ibrox.
With Derek McInnes now overseeing another squad rebuild, recruitment has focused on finding players capable of making an immediate contribution while also possessing long-term resale value. Several positions remain under review, but central defence continues to be one of the key areas the club is looking to reinforce before the new season gets underway.
Rangers have previous experience of turning an unfamiliar prospect into one of the Scottish Premiership’s standout performers.
The Light Blues struck gold during the summer of 2025 when they secured Emmanuel Fernandez from English League One side Peterborough United for a reported £3.5 million.
The Nigerian defender arrived under the management of Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, both of whom have since departed the club.
Fernandez found opportunities difficult to come by during Martin’s spell in charge, starting only one league fixture before eventually establishing himself after Danny Rohl took over.
By the end of the 2025/26 campaign, the centre-back had become one of Rangers’ most influential performers.
He finished the season with six goals in 33 appearances across all competitions, including five league goals in just 27 Premiership outings.
His consistently impressive displays also earned him a place in the Scottish FA Premiership Team of the Year, highlighting the impact he made during his breakthrough campaign.
Rangers targeting another young defender
Fernandez arrived at Ibrox without any experience of top-flight football, having previously featured only in England’s League One.
Rangers offered him the chance to showcase his talent on bigger stages, including both the Scottish Premiership and European competition.
Now, the club appear eager to repeat that successful formula.
According to journalist Santi Aouna, Rangers are among several clubs interested in signing Troyes defender Sankhoun Diawara during the current transfer window.
The report claims the Scottish giants have already presented the 20-year-old with what has been described as an ambitious sporting project in an attempt to persuade him that Ibrox is the ideal destination for his development.
Aouna adds that Rangers are actively pushing to complete a deal as they continue strengthening their defensive options following the departures of Derek Cornelius and Nasser Djiga after their respective loan spells ended.
Swiss side FC Basel are also believed to be competing for Diawara’s signature, although it remains unclear what transfer fee Troyes would demand before agreeing to sell the young Frenchman.
Diawara could follow Fernandez’s path
Much like Fernandez before him, Diawara would arrive in Glasgow without any senior top-flight experience or European football on his résumé.
The left-footed defender broke into Troyes’ first team during the 2025/26 season and quickly impressed with a series of mature performances in Ligue 2.
His defensive numbers underline his physical dominance, with the youngster regularly winning battles both on the ground and in the air.
Although he has yet to register a senior goal in Ligue 2, Diawara found the net five times across 58 appearances for Troyes’ Under-19 and reserve sides.
That record hints at the possibility of him developing into an attacking threat from set-pieces, much like Fernandez managed during his outstanding campaign for Rangers.
His naturally left-footed profile would also provide McInnes with greater balance when building attacks from the back, something currently lacking within the first-team squad.
Unlike many right-footed defenders forced to operate on the left side, Diawara is capable of receiving possession comfortably before progressing play naturally down the flank without awkward adjustments.
Combining strong defensive qualities with composure in possession, the French youngster appears to possess many of the attributes Rangers previously identified in Fernandez.
Should the Light Blues succeed in beating Basel to his signature, they may once again have the opportunity to develop another highly promising central defender into one of the Premiership’s standout performers.
Nafisa
