Alious
With the January transfer window fast approaching, **Danny Rohl** is preparing for his first real opportunity to shape the Rangers squad in his own image. The German coach has made an electric start to life at Ibrox—five wins and two draws from seven league matches—and the club is eager to give him the tools to push even further.
Rangers Move for Rising SPFL Standout
After a summer dominated by signings from England, Rangers are now looking much closer to home for midfield reinforcements.
FootballTransfers reports that the Light Blues are actively working to finalise a deal for David Watson, Kilmarnock’s highly rated central midfielder, when the window opens.
The Scotland U21 international is out of contract at the end of the season, putting Killie under pressure to sell in January rather than lose him for free. Rangers see this as a prime opportunity to secure what could become the first signature of the Rohl era. However, the pursuit won’t be straightforward—Celtic and Lazio are also in the race, making this a competitive battle for one of Scotland’s brightest young prospects.
Why Watson Is the Ideal Diomande Replacement
With Mohamed Diomande set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, Rohl is facing a crucial midfield gap early in the new year. Watson could step in immediately as not just cover—but potentially an upgrade.
Performance metrics from this season strongly support the case.
Watson has been described by scout Kai Watson as a “box-crashing, goalscoring midfielder who works relentlessly on both sides of the pitch”—and his numbers back that up. In Premiership action, he has:
3 goals
2 big chances created
Strong duel-winning stats both on the ground and in the air
More defensive interceptions per match than Diomande
Diomande, by comparison, has only managed 1 goal and 1 big chance created, despite attracting a £6.5m bid from Besiktas in the summer. On current form, Watson offers more goal threat, more creativity, and more defensive bite.
A Player Already Dominating the League
Analyst John Walker has previously said Watson “blew up the league” last season, and his form at just 20 years old suggests he is now taking another leap. He registered four goals in 23 league starts in the 2024/25 campaign and has continued to elevate his game this season.
For Rangers, the appeal is clear: Watson is young, proven in the Scottish Premiership, tactically versatile, and capable of making an instant impact—exactly the profile Rohl wants for a mid-season addition.
A Perfect First Signing for the Rohl Era?
If Rangers can beat the competition and complete the deal next month, Watson could walk straight into the XI while Diomande is away—and potentially stay there on merit. His blend of energy, goals, defensive contribution, and maturity makes him an ideal fit for Rohl’s evolving midfield structure.
With momentum building at Ibrox and the manager eager to put his stamp on the squad, capturing one of Scotland’s most exciting young talents would be a statement start to the new year.
Alious
