Glasgow Rangers progressed by means of to the subsequent spherical of qualifying for the league part of the Champions League with an mixture win over Panathinaikos earlier this week.
The Mild Blues gained 2-0 within the first leg at Ibrox final week earlier than they travelled to Greece to safe a 1-1 draw, successful the tie 3-1 on mixture to ebook a gathering with Viktoria Plzen later this month.
Djeidi Gassama scored in each legs, firing within the equaliser on Wednesday night time, and has made an extremely spectacular begin to life with the Scottish Premiership giants.
Not all the membership’s new signings have hit the bottom working underneath Russell Martin, although, as Thelo Aasgaard has been lacking by means of damage and Emmanuel Fernandez is but to function.
Joe Rothwell has supplied a chilled and guaranteed presence on the base of the midfield for the Gers, having signed from Bournemouth on a everlasting deal, however the membership’s different signing from the Cherries has not had as a lot luck.
Martin introduced Aarons, whom he educated with as a participant throughout their time collectively at Norwich Metropolis, on mortgage from the Premier League aspect and has performed him at left-back within the final two video games.
How the Max Aarons experiment has gone
It’s truthful to say that the English defender has regarded uncomfortable in his first two aggressive outings in a Rangers shirt, enjoying on the other aspect to the one he’s used to enjoying.
Aarons had solely began 9 instances as a left-back in his membership profession, together with youth degree, earlier than the 2 video games towards Panathinaikos, in comparison with 258 begins as a right-back, and his lack of expertise in that function was evident in his performances.
All too typically, the previous Norwich defender appeared confused as to the place to place himself or learn how to form his physique to defend balls excessive or by means of balls to cease wingers from getting in behind, or to cease gamers from taking the ball off him.
It was virtually very expensive within the second leg when he did not cope with a by means of ball and fell over attempting to protect it from the attacker, however he was bailed out by an excellent one-versus-one save by Jack Butland.
|
Vs Panathinaikos |
Max Aarons |
Jefte |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
90 |
17 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
1 |
2 |
|
Floor duel success price |
83% |
100% |
|
Go accuracy |
89% |
100% |
|
Dribbled previous |
0x |
0x |
|
Error led to shot |
1 |
0 |
|
Crosses tried |
0 |
2 |
|
Stats by way of Sofascore |
||
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Jefte provided extra in 17 minutes, as a naturally left-footed participant, than Aarons did in 90 minutes in Greece on Wednesday night time, as he tried extra crosses and made extra tackles and interceptions mixed.
The Brazilian’s cameo highlighted the advantages of getting a left-footed left-back who’s snug in that function, which is why the Aarons experiment might be ended by the membership’s curiosity in one other left-back.
Rangers within the race to signal new left-back
Based on Foot Mercato, Rangers are one in every of a lot of sides eyeing up a possible deal to signal AS Monaco full-back Kassoum Ouattara this summer season.
The report claims that the Mild Blues have made contact with the participant’s representatives to debate a possible switch to Ibrox, however they don’t seem to be the one staff to have completed that.
Celtic, Augsburg, Toulouse, PSV, and Metz have all additionally had a touchpoint together with his agent, as all of them compete to land his signature for the 2025/26 marketing campaign, and probably past.
Foot Mercato provides that Monaco will not be trying to mortgage the defender out, although, as they would favor to money in on the participant to promote him completely.
Nevertheless, the report doesn’t state how a lot they’d need in return, or whether or not or not Rangers could be keen to do a everlasting deal for him.
Why Rangers ought to signal Kassoum Ouattara
The Scottish giants ought to push to win the race for the 20-year-old left-back within the coming days and weeks as a result of he would finish the Max Aarons experiment.
Ouattara is a naturally left-footed left-back who might slot into the aspect on the left to compete with Jefte for a beginning spot, permitting the English full-back to compete with James Tavernier at right-back.
This could imply that Martin wouldn’t need to play Aarons out of place, to the detriment of the staff, on his weaker foot, as he would have one other probably high quality choice to name upon on the left flank.
Ouattara, who scored towards Torino in pre-season earlier this week, remains to be discovering his manner in first-team soccer, on the age of 20, however he has proven numerous promise in his brief profession up to now.
The France U20 worldwide performed 12 instances and began 5 matches in Ligue 1 for Monaco within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, and caught the attention together with his attacking contributions, as he’s a left-footed participant who can bomb on down the left to create probabilities for his aspect.
|
24/25 Ligue 1 |
Kassoum Ouattara per 90 |
Percentile rank vs full-backs |
|---|---|---|
|
xA |
0.29 |
High 5% |
|
Possibilities created |
1.38 |
High 17% |
|
Profitable crosses |
1.62 |
High 7% |
|
Cross accuracy |
41.2% |
High 9% |
|
Profitable dribbles |
1.15 |
High 12% |
|
Assists |
0.23 |
High 9% |
|
Stats by way of FotMob |
||
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Ouatarra thrived as an attacking drive down the left flank for Monaco within the French top-flight, rating extremely amongst his positional friends in a bunch of artistic statistics.
This implies that he has the potential to be an enormous offensive weapon for Martin on the left if he fingers him the prospect to play common first-team soccer, beginning week-in-week-out within the Premiership.
Ouatarra, who has been described as a “very offensive” full-back by author Kai Watson, additionally showcased the defensive aspect of his recreation in Ligue 2 with Amiens within the 2023/24 marketing campaign.
The 20-year-old expertise averaged 3.3 tackles and interceptions per recreation, while Aarons made only one on Wednesday night time, and helped his staff maintain 4 clear sheets in ten appearances within the division.
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These statistics recommend that he has the potential to be a well-rounded left-back who can supply high quality offensively and defensively, which is why Ouattara might are available to finish the Aarons experiment by arriving as a starting-calibre, pure, left-back choice for the supervisor.
