The race to sign Troyes central defender Sankhoun Diawara has taken a compelling new turn following a fresh update from Italian transfer insider Luca Bendoni.
According to the Sky Sports Italy journalist, three clubs are currently locked in the hunt for the 20-year-old French talent: Rangers, Udinese and RB Leipzig.
This update introduces a fascinating shift in momentum for the sought-after defender, offering both encouraging signals and a serious warning sign for Rangers.
Rangers take on Saint-Etienne in their first public friendly of the summer on Wednesday…
Cammy Devlin and Ivor Pandur are in contention!
AC Milan omitted, Udinese reality
Just 24 hours ago, reports emerging from France suggested Rangers had reached an agreement with Troyes to take Diawara to Ibrox, even as Serie A giants AC Milan attempted a late hijack.
However, Bendoni – a reliable figure in Italian transfer reporting – notably omitted AC Milan entirely from his latest rundown of suitors.
The absence of Milan from Bendoni’s intel could indicate that the Rossoneri’s reported interest was either peripheral or has cooled off.
Conversely, the inclusion of Udinese aligns with the Pozzo family’s long-standing model of scouring Ligue 2 and French youth academies for emerging prospects.
If Milan are indeed out of the equation, it removes one major European heavyweight from Rangers’ path. But any sense of relief in Glasgow will be short-lived.
Enter RB Leipzig: The ultimate threat to Rangers
The headline development in Bendoni’s update is the arrival of RB Leipzig.
While Udinese and Rangers have been monitoring Diawara for weeks, the Bundesliga side represent a completely different tier of competition in youth recruitment.
Red Bull’s talent-spotting network is widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated in global football, particularly when it comes to identifying defenders in France.
When Leipzig enter a transfer race for a 20-year-old, they do not just offer competitive financial terms – they present a well-documented development pathway.
What are your expectations for Vanja Dragojevic at Rangers?
He brings captaincy credentials to Ibrox…
Young players know that a successful two-season stint in Saxony routinely leads to mega transfers to top-tier European giants.
For Rangers, Leipzig’s presence dramatically narrows the margin for error.
The editorial verdict
If Rangers do indeed have an agreement in principle with Troyes, now is the time to finalise the paperwork and close the door.
Dithering or haggling over final payment structures against a club backed by Red Bull’s resources is a recipe for heartbreak.
While Ibrox offers immediate European football, a passionate 50,000-strong fanbase, and a clear path to first-team minutes under high pressure, Leipzig’s pitch to young talent is notoriously persuasive.
Bendoni’s update confirms that Rangers remain firmly in the mix, but with RB Leipzig hovering, the Andrew Cavenagh-led club must act with absolute speed before the German outfit convert their interest into a complete hijack.
Receive a digest of our best Rangers content each week direct to your mailbox
