Diomande upgrade: Rohl pushing for Rangers to sign £5m “sensation”
Glasgow Rangers were given a boost on paper when it was revealed that Mohamed Diomande did not make the Ivorian squad for the African Cup of Nations.
Whilst Nasser Djiga has gone away with Burkina Faso and will be unavailable for selection over the festive schedule, Diomande will be at Danny Rohl’s disposal.
How much of a boost that is remains to be seen, though, because the left-footed star has endured a difficult season, with more red cards (two) than goals (one) in all competitions, per Sofascore.
The Ivorian star needs to step up and improve his performances on the pitch to prove that he can be a key player for the German head coach moving forward.
Danny Rohl pushing for Rangers to sign £5m star
It is even more important for Diomande to up his levels for the Gers with the January transfer window now only a couple of weeks away from opening for business.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to TEAMtalk, Rohl is pushing for Rangers to seal a swoop for Tromso central midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl to bolster his options in the middle of the park.
The report claims that the Scottish Premiership giants are intensifying their efforts to sign the Norwegian youngster, as the German head coach is very keen to bring him to Ibrox.
It adds that the former Sheffield Wednesday manager believes that Hjerto-Dahl can be the cornerstone of his midfield moving forward, because he is viewed as a dynamic and athletic midfield operator.
TEAMtalk also reveals that Tromso are looking for a fee of around €6m (£5m) for the 20-year-old central midfielder, but it remains to be seen whether or not Rangers are willing to pay that price.
Why Rangers should sign Jens Hjerto-Dahl
On top of the claim that Rohl is pushing for the club to sign the Eliteserien talent, Rangers should get a deal done for Hjerto-Dahl because he could arrive at Ibrox as an upgrade on Diomande.
As aforementioned, the current Gers midfielder has struggled in the 2025/26 campaign. The Ivorian has produced one goal and one assist in 13 appearances, per Sofascore, whilst making 1.8 tackles and interceptions per game.
The Rangers star has failed to provide much quality in or out of possession in the middle of the park in the Premiership, unfortunately, and that is why dipping into the market for a new central midfield option makes a lot of sense for the club.
Hjerto-Dahl, who was described as a “sensation” by journalist Pete O’Rourke, showed enough on the pitch in the 2025 Eliteserien campaign to suggest that he could arrive at Ibrox and offer more than Diomande.
The 6 foot 4 midfielder is more than just a physical presence, despite TEAMtalk’s claim that he has been identified for his athletic qualities, as he has delivered goals and assists at the top end of the pitch.
Stats
Diomande (25/26 Premiership)
Hjerto-Dahl (2025 Eliteserien)
Appearances
13
30
Goals
1
4
Big chances created
1
5
Assists
1
4
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.8
2.5
Duels won per game
3.0
5.0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Hjerto-Dahl offered a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the 2025 season, to go along with the defensive and physical benefits of his play.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
These statistics suggest that the 20-year-old starlet has the potential to be an upgrade on Diomande in midfield, because he could offer more quality in front of goal, whilst also being more combative and effective out of possession.
Rangers fan outlet The Rangers Journal stated earlier this month that it would be a “huge coup” for the club to bring him to Ibrox, as he is one of the “biggest talents in Norway”.
Whilst he is unproven in Scottish football and it is always difficult to predict how a player will adapt to a new country and league, due to how many factors are in play, Hjerto-Dahl seems to be a fantastic option for Rangers to sign on paper.
At 20, he would also arrive as a young player with potential who could grow and develop under Rohl’s coaching, which is another reason why this is a transfer that could make a lot of sense.
Rangers star was a huge flop under Martin, now he's a bigger hit than Miovski
This Glasgow Rangers star who struggled under Russell Martin now looks like a bigger hit than Bojan Miovski.
ByDan Emery
With Diomande struggling for form, it is not surprising to see this latest report that the manager wants to bring Hjerto-Dahl in to add more athleticism and quality to his midfield.