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Mark Warburton blow as his top target Toumani Diagouraga moves to Leeds


Published: 19:13 EDT, 22 January 2016 | Updated: 19:46 EDT, 22 January 2016


Mark Warburton's rebuilding plans were dealt a hammer blow on Friday when top target Toumani Diagouraga left Brentford to join Leeds United.

The Frenchman, a holding midfielder, was viewed by the Rangers manager as an integral piece in his Ibrox jigsaw.

Warburton had said he was ‘very hopeful’ of having a new face on board before Monday’s league game against Morton at Cappielow, but his hopes of that man being his former Bees player were abruptly ended when Leeds moved in to clinch a £600,000 deal. Rangers target Toumani Diagouraga (pictured) has left Brentford to join Leeds United

Andy Halliday has filled the holding midfielder role for Rangers this season as they bid to return to the top flight, but Warburton had identified 28-year-old Diagouraga as a natural fit for the role.

On Friday night, Leeds United manager Steve Evans declared: ‘I think it was a big decision for the kid. I was obviously aware of Rangers’ interest.

‘The boy had a big decision to make. But obviously you only get to speak to a player if clubs agree a fee. We agreed a fee, so that’s why we could speak to him.




‘It’s taken a little while to get there but I’m delighted we’ve got there. I’m grateful to the owner Massino Cellino who has made this happen.

‘I wanted to build. I thought we wouldn’t get there so I was pleased to get it over the line. Diagouraga was up there with my top targets.

‘We have got a boy who is 6ft 2in tall, he is a Patrick Vieira-type player. He brings real quality to our midfield. He’s signed for a giant in English football.’ Diagouraga (left) was viewed by Rangers manager Mark Warburton as an integral piece in his Ibrox jigsaw

It remains to be seen if Rangers can deliver the new face supporters have been craving by the time they make the trip to Greenock on Monday night.

St Johnstone winger Michael O’Halloran was the subject of two bids by the Ibrox club earlier this week but the second offer – which was believed to be around £150,000 – was nowhere near the Perth club’s valuation.

Sportsmail understands that 25-year-old O’Halloran’s personal terms have been agreed in principle - but that will count for nothing unless Rangers now dig deep for the former Bolton Wanderers player.

It remains to be seen whether O’Halloran will line up for the Saints for their clash with Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow. Tommy Wright left him out of his team last weekend as he feared talk of a move had affected the player. Warburton (pictured) had said he was ‘very hopeful’ of having a new face on board before Monday’s league game against Morton at Cappielow

Warburton has already brought in Polish keeper Maciej Gostomski and Doncaster midfielder Harry Forrester on deals through to the summer, with Accrington Stanley pair Matt Crooks and Josh Windass secured on pre-contracts.

Following the failure to snap up Diagouraga, and with the O’Halloran deal still up in the air, it is possible that Rangers will now contact Accrington to accelerate the midfield duo’s arrival.

Meanwhile, Warburton’s side are near to full strength ahead of Monday’s trip to face Jim Duffy’s men.

Injured winger David Templeton remains the only absentee for the Ibrox side at the end of a week when Nathan Oduwa returned to parent club Tottenham after his loan deal was cut short.








