The midfielder looks set to move to Ipswich Town after failing to make the grade at Leeds United. If only he’d signed for Rangers.
Twelve months ago, Scotland legend Gary McAllister told the Daily Record that Rangers’ inability to secure a deal for Tounami Diagouraga was very much their loss and, concurrently, Leeds United’s gain.
“Leeds signing Diagouraga tells you the guy is rated. He’s a top player,” McAllister said after the rangy, long-legged midfielder sealed a £600,000 transfer from Brentford.
The former Leeds man would even go as far as to compare him to Patrick Vieira, one of the most influential midfielders of his generation. There are certain stylistic similarities, yes; a powerful, rangy stride and a cannonball shot.
However, the fact that Diagouraga has been farmed out on loan to Ipswich midway through Leeds’ most promising season in over a decade says a lot about his impact at Elland Road. As does his tally of one league start in 2016/17, the opening day battering at QPR to boot.
The Daily Record reported last year that Mark Warburton had identified the 29-year-old as a major upgrade on Rangers’ midfield options, purporting to provide the thrust and drive to spearhead a return to the top division.
And while the last twelve months hardly give the impression that Rangers missed out, there’s still an argument to be made that Diagouraga would slot straight in to a midfield that would perhaps struggle against the vast majority of Championship sides.
An excellent passer with the ability to drive forward from deep or break up opposition attacks, Diagouraga could have been the all-round ace in Warburton’s pack and an undisputed started in his midfield. After all, if there’s one manager who appreciates Diagouraga’s talents, its Warburton.
The 54-year-old first encountered the Paris-born enforcer while coaching Watford’s academy in the mid-2000s before reuniting at Griffin Park in 2013.
“I knew Toumani from Watford. He needed to have the self-belief. He would have two good games but he needed that consistency,” Warburton told Get West London during his second season at the Brentford helm.
“He’s got that now and now he can dominate the games. He’s dominating games. Toumani is almost the pulse of the team. He can keep the shape and pick up the second ball. I can’t speak high enough about Toumani.”
Instead of linking up once again with the man who beleives in him more than anyone, Diagouraga is now attempting to kick-start his career in the South East after plummeting down the pecking order at Elland Road. If only for hindsight.
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