FC Nordsjaelland have once again gone shopping in a familiar market as they look to replace Rangers’ January signing Mohamed Diomande with another Right to Dream graduate heading to Denmark.
The attributes which earned Mohamed Diomande that mid-season switch to Ibrox – the Ivorian a big hit already with two goals in his first four Scottish Premiership games – can also be glimpsed in the player who could soon be taking his place in Denmark.
Nordsjaelland accepted a bid worth around £4.5 million for Diomande last month. And the Superligaen outfit have wasted little time bringing in another left footed, all-action midfielder from the Ghana-based Right to Dream academy, Araphat Mohammed unveiled on Wednesday after obtaining his work permit.
Mohamed Diomande making a big impact at Rangers
“Araphat is a player who has some top skills at an extraordinarily high level,” says Alexander Riget, Nordsjaelland’s technical director. “He has a really good left foot and is also very strong in duels.
“Araphat has primarily played centrally in the field in his youth, but he can also play on the wing.. He is a player we see great potential in.”
Riget’s comments will feel familiar to Rangers supporters who have watched on in awe as Diomande – alongside fellow January recruit Oscar Cortes – takes Scottish football by storm. Both players scored in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Hearts, Diomande getting the rout underway with a fizzing shot from the edge of the box with his trusty left boot.
And given their track record when it comes to bringing Right to Dream graduates to Scandinavia – Nordsjaelland also gave big breaks to West Ham’s Mohamed Kudus and Brighton’s Simon Adingra – do not be surprised to see Araphet’s name emerge in the gossip columns in the very near future.
Can Nordsjaelland continue their trend?
“The fact that we, under the auspices of Right to Dream, once again have the opportunity to bring a player to FC Nordsjaelland really shows that our international academies deliver an incredibly good job,” Riget adds.
“We are very much looking forward to seeing Araphat develop.”
Diomande, meanwhile, is already shaping up to be one of Rangers’ most inspired additions in some time, his drive, technique and long-range shooting breathing fresh life into a previously one-paced and ageing engine room.
Gers boss Philippe Clement is under no illusions that Ibrox is unlikely to be the final step on Diomande’s journey, backing the newbie to go right to the very top of the European game. And, who knows, maybe one day Araphet will be taking his place in Scotland too.
