Abdoulaye Sissako scouted: The Rangers transfer linked man-orientated machine with huge potential

However, as clubs grow their scouting networks and collect information on more players than ever before, there is value in reading between the lines when it comes to speculation. Often a player’s profile and contract situation makes their arrival a real potential if not probable, and Abdoulaye Sissako may well fall into that bracket.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Rangers in recent days, given his contract in Belgium is up this summer. Currently playing for Zulte Waregem, the box-to-box midfielder appears to possess a range of attributes that correlate with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s requirements for a central midfielder.

The Dutchman has evolved the tactical blueprint he inherited from Steven Gerrard last November. Generally speaking, he favours quicker and more direct build-up play, a man-for-man approach without the ball as opposed to compact pressing and all-action centre-midfielders.

It is no surprise, therefore, that van Bronckhorst has used Ryan Jack and John Lundstram as his midfield two rather than Steven Davis and Glen Kamara. The latter two excelled in Gerrard’s narrow 4-3-3 and, defensively speaking, are less suited to the individual defensive and physical demands placed upon Jack and Lundstram.

Kamara and Davis arguably boast greater technical quality than the midfield axis currently keeping them out of the team. However, based on the evidence from these past five months, van Bronckhorst will continue to prioritise physicality in the engine room.

Sissako is an athletic, multi-faceted midfielder who can carry the ball from deep and unsettle defences without holding the keys to always ‘unlock’ a defence.

Focusing firstly on his off-ball qualities, Sissako would fit seamlessly into the isolated defensive approach currently in use at Ibrox.

Screening the defence in this example, the midfielder is pulled out then in by his opponent but has the required balance and power to recover possession.

In van Bronckhorst’s system, midfielders must be comfortable moving with markers as they drop deep to try and get on the ball, as Lundstram did regularly during the 2-1 Old Firm win at Hampden recently. Sissako is used to fulfilling this role for his current club.

Aswell as this, he can really move over the first few yards which has two main benefits. Firstly, it obviously enables a higher chance of recovering possession. Secondly, it can lure opponents into a false sense of security and lead them to believe they have acres of space to work within. 

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Here, after his side lose the ball Sissako jogs across the pitch before springing to force the challenge in a split second.

It’s noticeable when watching this clip that Sissako’s opponent doesn’t adjust for a tackle, such is the speed with which he is closed down.

This speed over a short distance can enable effective counterpressure, when a team look to regain possession just after they’ve lost it themselves. Below, his movement across the grass means his opponent, having turned as though he had time on the ball, is immediately confronted by the Frenchman.

Later in the same game having initially been bypassed, his recovery pace prevents the concession of a chance.

With the ball, Sissako is less polished and if a move to Scotland were to materialise, this would be an area in which improvement would be necessary.

Despite carrying the ball impressively at points and possessing quick feet to get out of tight spaces, the midfielder’s end product requires some work. The below sequence does a good job of describing that.

Having run beyond the defence, another trait van Bronckhorst desires from his midfield, Sissako backheels his way beyond a marker to allow entry into the penalty box. However, a skewed finish undoes the good work that earned a shooting opportunity.

Here’s another example of a third-man run beyond the defence combined with neat one-v-one play to bypass a marker, by way of a nutmeg.

The final product referenced requires development, here Sissako has a clear pathway to slot in his forward but misplaces his pass, playing the yellow line instead of the red.

Upon first watching, Sissako looks a good fit for Rangers. He isn’t the complete box-to-box midfielder but, crucially for the modern game, possesses the physical attributes and ball-carrying ability to compete at a high level.

If highlighted skills are refined, van Bronckhorst could develop a midfielder perfect for his style of football.