Scouting For Rangers: Midfield
Part 4 of Josh Duncan's series on the summer rebuild at Rangers
This article was written for Scottishfootball.info by Josh Duncan, an aspiring sports writer, who has his own Substack account. Please follow him there and on X.com.
Josh’s latest article will be the fourth in a series of ‘squad building’ exercises, looking specifically at Rangers, having already covered their centre backs, full backs and goalkeepers.
Josh will be writing regularly for the website covering signings/rumours at all Scottish clubs, keeping his Rangers specific analysis on his own page. Please leave comments for any players you would like to see featured.
We are closing in on the beginning of the summer window now and as I’ve outlined in this series, Rangers have a lot to do. They have started out with the acquisition of Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.
Andrew Cavenagh and his team will be aware that the squad needs some serious turnover once again and look to be prepared to do some early business.
No area is in more need of quality improvement than the Rangers midfield in my opinion. This season showing the latest in a series of Rangers teams unable to consistently control games or create chances.
When I began the research for this one, around a month ago now, I didn’t expect to struggle so much to find specific players to show in the article. I learned throughout the process that most midfielders that are good enough for Rangers are already out of the clubs reach.
This article ended up as an explanation of ways Rangers can mitigate this issue as much as one about scouting/profiling their midfield.
The Midfield
Tochi Chukwuani has struggled to start his Rangers career but given the outlay and the lack of time I wouldn’t expect to see him going anywhere this summer.
That leaves Nicolas Raskin, Mohammed Diomande and Connor Barron of the midfield starters. I think Rangers will be selling at least two of this group. The most likely for me would be Raskin and Diomande given that they will have the most suitors and Barron fills a home grown spot.
Although if Rangers can replace Connor Barron with more quality depth, it would improve the squad on a base level.
Rangers have reportedly opened talks over a new contract with Bailey Rice, I’d like to see him stay and be given an opportunity. I believe there is still potential there for him to become an important part of the squad. If he were to leave this summer, this spot could go to another youth option or a loan for depth.
Danny Rohl has switched between a midfield 2 and 3 a lot so far in his time so I will be looking to find players who can accommodate both setups. This means we are going to look for one backup and two starters.
We’re going to look for a starting number 6 and then a more creative/goal scoring midfielder for the starting positions. This is because more than anything, the Rangers midfield has lacked creativity in recent years.
That ability to consistently create is as important for controlling and dominating games as winning battles off the ball. It is a lot easier to keep opponents penned back if you can consistently break them down and create.
The Backup
Rangers have already been linked to a player I would deem a decent backup in Elliot Watt. However, I have already written a more detailed report on Elliot Watt and you can read the full thing here.
What I believe Rangers really need from a backup midfielder is a creative/goal scoring threat. The club has suffered from a lack of attacking contribution from the midfield for years now and that’s something I’d like to address throughout the midfield in this article.
The profile for this player was as simple as they get. I wanted to add a bit more physical presence to the midfield so I looked for players in the 8/10 positions that were over 180cm.
I wanted the potential for this player to develop into something more than just the backup as well so I looked at options aged 25 and under.
Then I added in players that had at least 10 goal contributions in the last season. To look more specifically, I looked for players above average in shots p90 and shot assists p90, to find someone that was consistently finding shooting opportunities for themselves and team mates. This led me to a few players to watch more in depth.
Svit Seslar
Svit Seslar is a 24 year old Slovenian midfielder playing for NK Celje. Seslar has had an unusual couple of seasons after being signed by Turkish side Eyupspor in 23/24.
He has spent time on loan at current club NK Celje before returning to his Turkish parent side for the first half of this season. He was then permanently signed to Celje in January.
Despite this turmoil, Seslar has kept contributing. With 24 goals and 27 assists in the last two seasons. This is the sort of attacking option we want to bring to the squad.
Seslar has a fantastic left foot, able to generate great power on shots from all angles and techniques. He is incredibly willing to get shots off from range and can be relied upon in the box as well.
He definitely has some struggles in his overall game, that’s why he’s the backup. His speed is an issue and his ability to control the ball on his weaker right foot sometimes lacks. However, when Seslar gets around the box these issues seem to go out the window.
When Seslar gets into positions in which he can combine around the box, his best play comes out. He moves the ball really quickly, playing on instinct to create chances. Moving the ball at speed is one of the best ways to break down stubborn defences.
Seslar also provides an option at set pieces. His left footed delivery is great for in swinging corners and free kicks. He gets great shape on his free kick deliveries especially, creating serious indecision from defenders and goalkeepers.
Seslar isn’t a perfect player but he provides something that Rangers don’t currently have in terms of squad options. He can play multiple positions and be an attacking threat late in games when Rangers are looking for winners or insurance goals.
Number 6 Profile
For a team like Rangers, my opinion is that the number 6 and the wingers are the most important positions. The number 6 has to be able to handle defensive work, control the build up and pick out those final passes or shots when teams are defending deep.
Finding players capable of all this is difficult, as the club have continually showed. I think what the club need to learn is that this position requires extra resources to recruit properly. The club will have to be prepared to spend more and compete for better talent in this area of the pitch.
The profile I went for started with number 6’s that have over 1500 minutes played this season. The height wasn’t as much of a concern as other positions so I didn’t set a parameter here.
For passing, I set out pretty high standards. I wanted a player who was 80th percentile or above for progressive passes and key passes in their leagues. I wanted to find a player who could not only get the ball moving but also be a creative influence as well.
I then wanted to make sure that the player could also carry the ball out as well as pass it. I looked for players that were above average for dribbles per 90 and progressive runs per 90. These are runs which carry the ball closer to the opponents goal by a certain distance, the distance required to count as a progressive run extends the further the player is from goal.
Finally I wanted someone who won over 60% of their defensive duels and was above average in interceptions per 90. The goal here is to find an intelligent defender, who positions well and makes strong decisions.
This gave me the names to watch in depth and come up with a target.
Yassine Titraoui
Yassine Titraoui is a 22 year old Algerian midfielder playing for Charleroi in the Belgian Pro League. Titraoui is the first player that I have suggested that Rangers would not be the top dogs when trying to sign them. Titraoui has tentative links to Premier League teams although reportedly no bids have been made.
I don’t think Titraoui is ready to start at that level yet so Rangers would be able to offer him a starting role in a European side to tempt him over other options. The likely cost of around £7 million, is now comfortably within the realm of possibility. It is the ability to tempt him to the club that will be more difficult.
The main reason I chose him though, was to illustrate the level of player I think the club needs to start at number 6.
One of the things I really enjoy about Titraoui is his pace of play. Far too often you see Rangers midfielders hold on to the ball instead of keeping things moving, making it very easy for opponents to stay organised.
Titraoui like to move the ball quickly, passing and then moving to receive again constantly. If he wins a loose ball he looks for an option straight away, which helps his team out of pressure.
The only time he slows down in the build up phase is when he sees the space to find a more progressive pass. He can hit these incisive out to in passes really well on either foot, breaking through the lines.
Titraoui’s dribbling is another top attribute. He accelerates really well and doesn’t lose speed with the ball at his feet. He will carry into space whenever he sees the opportunity and will bypass opponents while carrying at speed.
He is great at creating opportunities this way, driving forward and getting shots off himself or setting up a teammate. He does sometimes get caught trying to draw fouls, turning the ball over.
His best attribute is his creativity, he gets involved in the attack in multiple ways. Titraoui loves to move around the edges of the box and find crosses or cutbacks to create opportunities.
He will also look for quick combinations around the box in order to create opportunities. His acceleration really helps here, he’s hard to track in tight spaces and gets himself into good positions consistently.
Titraoui is also very skilled at shooting from range, an attribute that would be very useful playing against the types of defences Rangers face. He consistently arrives at the edge of the box getting quick shots away with great accuracy and power. Below are some clips of his goals this season.
Titraoui’s propensity for shooting comes with a drawback though. He will often fire off shots from range when it opens up regardless of the other options around him. This leads to wasted opportunities to setup teammates.
Off the ball, Titraoui has great awareness, he stays well positioned and understands the play developing around him. These defensive qualities make him great at covering a back four in settled defensive situations.
He rarely fails to track a runner, understanding what danger each player around him poses. His quick acceleration allows him to cover lots of possibilities.
In the clip above you can see Titraoui drop into the box to help his centre back with a runner. Once that danger is covered, the centre back steps out and Titraoui recognises the space left behind. This means that he’s in position to stop the cross at the front post.
Titraoui’s biggest deficiency is his physicality, as you would expect given his size. He’s still decently strong but bigger players do give him trouble on the defensive end.
He tries to make up for this with aggressiveness, which works okay generally but sometimes sees Titraoui caught out and bypassed very easily.
Given the all around quality that Titraoui possesses, it is no wonder why top teams would be interested in his services. I hope that this outlines the level of quality that Rangers should be striving for in their number 6.
It will be difficult to compete for these players but Rangers are in a position to do it. Players that are only good at some parts of the role, especially ones who aren’t great on the ball, will continue to fail at the club.
Nathan Saliba and Mory Gbane were two players I also liked the look of who are a bit more realistic, although not at the same level of quality of course. This is the trade off if you aren’t trying to compete in higher markets.
8/10 Profile
To round out the midfield group and facilitate the options for a 3 man midfield, I looked for an '“advanced 8” or number 10 type of player. Someone who can move between the lines and get involved in the attack.
This position is particularly difficult to play for Rangers given the way they are defended domestically. Space is at a premium and it takes a very good player to find it.
Players who show this level of ability are usually snapped up by top teams quickly. So for Rangers it is just as important to begin identifying these talents early as it is to be competing in bigger markets.
Our profile here is all about creativity. The usual filtering of players under 25 with at least 1000 minutes played last season will apply. To give us a player with time to develop in the Rangers midfield.
Then to find someone consistently moving the ball into dangerous positions, I looked for someone above average in their leagues and position for passes into the final third p90 and passes into the box p90.
Then I added in touches in the box p90 as well, to find a player that was getting into the box themselves as well as finding teammates there. Finally, I added a requirement of at least 5 goal contributions. The last bit is a bit less scientific but it is good to see some tangible output.
This was the position that has taken me the most time. I think I’ve watched around 30 players for at least 90 minutes while looking for a target to showcase. In the end I went for attacking potential over anything else, leading me to another quite ambitious target.
Valdemar Byskov
Valdemar Byskov is a 21 year old Danish midfielder playing for Midtjylland. Byskov has enjoyed a bit of a breakout season in the Superliga, with 7 goals and 3 assists in just over 1000 league minutes.
His smaller build affords him strong agility and acceleration, he glides with the ball at his feet and is difficult to dispossess. This is clear when driving towards the box and his technical qualities on both feet allow him to finish from all angles.
I did feel while watching him play that he lacked composure in moments where he was running onto shots in and around the box. Chances would fall to him and he would rush the shot too much, leading to a couple wild attempts:
Despite the brilliant goal numbers, I actually feel that Byskov’s strongest quality is his ability to create for his teammates. It seems like the game moves slower for him than everyone else and he can pick out passes extremely quickly.
Byskov also shows lovely technique on these short crosses around the corner of the box. Able to pick out specific teammates or dangerous areas consistently.
Outside of the attack, Byskov can also drop deeper to help escape pressure in the build up phase. His great first touch and close control can help him get out of tight situations and play forward.
Off the ball is where you find the major weakness, a mix of his smaller build and lack of experience means defensively he struggles in duels. He can be brushed off quite easily by bigger players.
When fighting for loose balls you see some of his lack of experience and physical technique. He falls into the trap a lot of young players face, they try to hold off opponents using their purely core muscle instead of their arms. This means that they don’t slow the momentum of their opponents and are knocked away easily. This issue was particularly noticeable in Europa League matches.
I did notice that Byskov was starting to show a bit more skill in physical duels towards the end of the season in the Superliga at least. Hopefully he can continue that growth.
I think you would be looking somewhere in the mid 7 figures for Byskov as well. There have been pretty much no serious links in the media for this player so it is difficult to know where Midtjylland really value him.
It could be higher given his age and contract length, he is tied down until 2030. If that is the case Rangers would likely be priced out and have to move on.
I think there could be an opportunity here though for the club to get in before he’s fully established himself as a first team player and get a really high potential, although quite raw, young talent for their midfield. Once again though, these targets are more specifically chosen to describe the sort of qualities Rangers would need from the position.
Lovro Zvonarek and Luka Stojkovic were the two closest to making the article if this one weren’t possible. Although both would also be expensive and they have their own issues.
I actually think this might be a position Rangers could cover by loaning a top talent from one of the top 5 leagues and look more long term in future windows as well.
That leaves us with the midfield set and just the attack to sort out. Hopefully even with my perhaps overly ambitious targets, this article outlines the level of quality I think is required in the midfield going forward.
Interesting player suggestions but what Cavenagh said, and I think most of us agree, is that we need leadership and chemistry, which partly comes from having a long-term spine and/or Rangers connections, rather than young talented foreign players who (understandably) see us as a short-term step towards the EPL. That's why I really hope we keep Bailey Rice and he develops properly, and add Luke Graham too, we need a CB and a CM, at least, who'll stay with the club for several years and become the backbone. I guess that kinda thing is difficult to scout for using stats. Elliot Watt another contender, maybe Harry Souttar, Lewis Ferguson if we can afford him. Or maybe Dan Neil - young no.6 who's clearly got the cojones to captain a big club but not quite good enough for the EPL.
That Svit I’m talking about joshy!!! 👍