Rangers transfer scouting: Josh Tymon's progressive profile analysed

Rangers’ run to the Europa League final last season was predicated on the Dutchman’s pragmatic nature, empowering individuals to raise the ceiling of the collective.

It means that, as the Gers boss prepares for his first summer transfer window in charge, Rangers’ recruitment could reflect a desire to remain flexible in order to compete fully on three fronts.

Enter Josh Tymon, a 23-year-old left-back plying his trade with Stoke City in the English Championship.

Tymon moved to the Potters back in 2017 on a five-year deal from hometown club Hull City, before penning a three-and-a-half-year contract extension in December after impressing under the guidance of former Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill.

The 23-year-old featured for England at every international age group until under-20 level and he was part of the squad that won the prestigious Toulon tournament in 2017.

With Calvin Bassey attracting admiring glances from England and elsewhere, and Borna Barisic having seemingly never convinced van Bronckhorst, would Tymon prove a shrewd addition to the squad?

Firstly, it’s important to underline that the 23-year-old predominantly operated as a wing-back for Stoke last season. Indeed, the Potters have frequently switched between a three-man and four-man defence under O’Neill, with Tymon comfortable in either role while also being capable of playing higher up the pitch during spells within games.

His durability as a player is particularly impressive. The 23-year-old clocked up 4000+ minutes for Stoke in all competitions last season, missing only two league games in a gruelling Championship season. As a result, Tymon is approaching a century of senior first-team appearances despite only turning 23 at the end of last month.

Given the respective fitness records of both Connor Goldson and James Tavernier, the addition of Tymon could create a highly dependable backline for van Bronckhorst in terms of selection.

Tymon’s most redeeming feature as a wing-back is his ability to carry the ball over large distances. In fact, the 23-year-old ranked in the 90th percentile in the Championship for progressive runs per 90 minutes among full-backs and wing-backs last season.

The Englishman will often look to pick up the ball up and drive infield, as opposed to down the line where Borna Barisic looks to hit before delivering crosses into the penalty area.

His powerful running style, coupled with his close control and use of his body, makes it difficult for defenders to dispossess him when he dribbles inside.

As he receives a pass on the touchline, he looks to go infield with his first touch.

In doing so, he unbalances his marker, opening up a gap to drive into with the ball.

He then quickly shifts the ball from his left onto his right to evade the challenge…

 …Before shrugging off another defender and attacking the space.

Tymon can also leverage his speed on the ball to create additional time when squaring up defenders. With the threat that he can explode inside at any second, defenders are reluctant to get close.

As he isolates his marker in the example below, the opportunity has opened up to knock the ball into space.

However, Tymon shifts the ball between his feet, drawing the defender forward with the threat of driving into the space.

He then coaxes the defender forward before knocking the ball through his legs, before delivering a sumptuous cross to the far post which Stoke should convert from.

When playing in a back four with a winger ahead of him, Tymon tends to take up clever positions in the left half-space, which maximises his ability to drive into space and deliver crosses.

Rather than aiming for his teammates, Tymon typically elects to hit dangerous areas with his crosses to maximise the quality of chances for his attackers.

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As he strides forward with the ball in the example below, he spots his striker moving into space between the opposition’s two central defenders.

From an inside position, he curls a delicious cross into the space between the opposition’s goalkeeper and defensive line.

In doing so, he allows the striker to come onto the cross, where he ought to have scored.

Later in the same game, he again picks up the ball in a similar position.

As he prepares to deliver his cross, Stoke have two players attacking the penalty box as opposed to one.

The cross has a similar trajectory, allowing the same player to meet the delivery where, again, he fails to make a proper connection with the goal gaping.

Stoke boss Michael O’Neill highlighted Tymon’s threat in the left half-space when he signed a new deal midway through last season, saying: “At this minute in time he’s playing as a wing-back, but I think he can play anywhere on the left side or further in the pitch.”

In that respect, Tymon could operate in a number of positions under van Bronckhorst. Against opponents who are content to sit deep against Rangers the 23-year-old could be an interesting creative solution as a left-sided central defender in a back three given his capacity to create from the left half-space.

READ MORE: How John Souttar fits into Rangers' enviable defensive armoury after Connor Goldson renewal

In fact, Tymon ranked seventh in Key Passes per 90 – the pass before an attempt at goal - in the Championship last season among all players who played more than 1,500 minutes.

His ability to cross first time while on the run is an important attribute as it prevents the opposition defence from getting settled.

In contrast, there exists scope for improvement in his deliveries when he collects the ball in a stationary position, which is a criticism that has often been levelled at Barisic over the years.

Similarly, his ability to play cut-back crosses has definite room for improvement, although he is intelligent in picking when to deliver the ball into area to avoid aimless crosses into the danger area.

Here, he is quickly closed down by an opponent when he lifts his head to assess his options in the penalty area.

Where many players would try their luck with the risk of the cross being blocked by the first man, Tymon elects to play a cutting pass through the penalty box…

 …Which creates a shooting opportunity at the far post.

Tymon’s all-action nature in carrying the ball, coupled with his ability to bend crosses into dangerous areas, is reminiscent of Andy Robertson during his time at Hull City.

Defensively, Tymon copes with the demands of a wing-back, boasting the stamina to reteat into his defensive position very quickly.

When opponents build from the back, the 23-year-old is comfortable moving up to press the opposition wing-back/full-back and is very intelligent in how he positions his body to avoid being played around.

Crucially, the Stoke City man is composed when defending overload situations.

As Fulham moved the ball wide, they create a 2v1 around Tymon on the edge of the penalty area.

However, he holds his position long enough to force the pass to the overlapping player.

Allowing him the yardage to track the attacker and block the attempted cross into the penalty box.

Having just turned 23, Tymon has the correct age profile for Rangers to invest in.

More importantly, however, the Stoke City man has the attributes required to succeed under van Bronckhorst. He could theoretically replace the crossing output of Barisic in attack, while his mobility makes him an ideal fit for the side’s man-orientated defensive approach.

However, the three-and-a-half-year contract extension he penned last season will make it difficult for Rangers to prise him from Stoke’s grasp without paying premium.

In the right environment, Tymon has a big future in the game. However, Rangers could find a comparable option for a cheaper price elsewhere in Europe if the Potters are unwilling to budge.