Dinamo Zagreb want to sign Borna Barisic on pre-contract agreement in January amid Rangers contract expiry
Dinamo Zagreb are planning to offer Borna Barisic a pre-contract in January when he enters the final six months of his deal at Rangers, report Index.
Writing on their official website (13 September), the Croatian news outlet report that the club were keen to take Barisic this summer but a deal never materialised as it was too expensive.
But with the left-back’s current Ibrox deal due to expire next summer they are planning to offer him a deal to sign him for free next summer, or potentially offer Rangers a “very small” transfer fee to take him in January.
“One of the solutions is Borna Barisic, who entered the last year of his contract with Rangers,” they wrote.
“There was talk about him in Maksimir this summer as well, but he could not be brought in, so Dinamo will consider their options for the winter.
“The first is to offer the 30-year-old Barisic a contract in the winter so that he comes as a free agent in the summer. Barisic in Rangers earns around one million euros per season (£16.5k p/w), and in Dinamo he could receive a slightly smaller amount than that.
“Another option is for Dinamo to try to buy him from Rangers for the winter, but the compensation would have to be very small since the player is free in the summer.
“Sergej Jakirović wants Barišić in the team. He wanted him even now, but there was no time and it is possible that Dinamo will try to bring him in the winter.”
Opportunity
It’s a very clever play from Zagreb to try and get Barisic on a cheap deal at the end of his deal, and it’s an opportunity for Rangers to potentially cash in too.
The Croatian is now into his 30’s and any new contract at Ibrox would undoubtedly take him into the twilight of his career, meaning he is only likely to get worse the longer he stays.
This would provide an excellent opportunity for the club to cash in on an ageing player rather than lose him for free, while also having time to plan ahead and find an adequate replacement if necessary.
Dujon Sterling is currently seen as the back-up seemingly after Ridvan Yilmaz was left out of the Europa League squad, but if the Turkish international is still at the club he would be the most obvious player to step into Barisic’s place.
It could potentially be a deal that makes sense for all parties whether it happens in January or next summer, but it’s one to keep an eye on for sure.
In other Rangers news, the board have approached a former Premier League boss to replace Michael Beale as manager.