Championship club to rival Rangers for Leeds senior player after Monk decision - reports

By Will Butcher 

Rotherham have joined the race to sign Toumani Diagouraga from Leeds, according to a report.

The 29-year-old could leave Leeds by Wednesday after being frozen out by manager Garry Monk, who has not picked the January signing since the opening day of the season.

Sports website HITC claim that Rotherham have joined the race to sign Diagouraga, after Rangers were credited with an interest.

Yorkshire Evening Post writer Lee Sobot had claimed on Monday that Diagouraga was on the shortlist of Ibrox manager Mark Warburton after their time together at Brentford.

Earlier this month, HITC claimed that Monk has told Diagouraga and fellow teammate Luke Murphy that they are not a part of his plans and they can find new clubs in the next fortnight before the window shuts.

Diagouraga, who has also had spells for Peterborough United, Portsmouth and Swindon Town, has plunged down Garry Monk’s central-midfield pecking order.

Summer arrivals Liam Bridcutt and Matt Grimes are ahead of him, while youngsters Ronaldo Vieira and Kalvin Phillips have also come to prominence after impressive pre-seasons.

Combative midfielder Diagouraga arrived at Elland Road for £700,000 in January from Brentford, having played 244 times for the Londoners over seven years.

The 29-year-old featured 19 times for Leeds last season and has less than two years remaining on his deal with the Yorkshire giants.

Rotherham boss Alan Stubbs has already signed 11 new players for the Millers after joining from Hibernian, including Chelsea's highly-rated Izzy Brown, Falkirk midfielder Will Faulks and Peterborough playmaker Jon Taylor.

In other Leeds transfer news, Monk is braced for Premier League offers for this star man.