Borna Barisic may only play 11 more times for Rangers as January transfer on the cards
Rangers are enjoying the honeymoon period under Philippe Clement currently, with the Light Blues yet to taste defeat since the Belgian arrived in Glasgow.
The Ibrox boss has been forced to work with the squad that Michael Beale left at Rangers, but with the January transfer window on the horizon, plans are beginning to be put in place over who will depart and arrive in Scotland.
One name that has been repeatedly linked with the Ibrox exit door over the last few months has been Borna Barisic and it appears as though the Croatian international may only have 11 games left in a Rangers shirt before a potential January exit.
Barisic has been touted as a potential cheap solution to Roma’s current crisis in defence, with a belief that it would only cost a nominal fee to get the 31-year-old out of Ibrox, given the fact his contract with Rangers expires at the end of the season [Calcio Mercato, 2 November].
The Italian outlet also reports that the Premier League’s Aston Villa are also admirers of the Croatian international, suggesting that may also be keen to secure his services when the January transfer window opens.
Between now and the turn of the new year, Rangers have 11 matches in all competitions and there seems to be a growing expectation that these could be the final outings for Barisic in an impressive spell with the Light Blues that began in 2018.
If the 31-year-old has no interest in extending his stay in Glasgow, it could well be best for all parties if they find a move for the defender in January, so that Rangers at least receive a nominal fee that can be reinvested in the transfer window.
That way they can spend the second half of the season assessing their options in defence and decide whether or not they need to strengthen at full-back next summer, rather than relying on Barisic until he walks away for nothing at the end of the campaign.
For that deal to be completed, somebody will have to convert their interest into a genuine bid for the defender. That shouldn’t be an issue considering the current state of his Ibrox contract, with both Roma and Villa financially equipped to pay a nominal fee.
The closer we get to the January transfer window without a new contract being agreed between Rangers and Barisic, the more likely it becomes he will leave Ibrox when the window opens. It would be a surprise to see the Croatian still in light blue in 12 games time.
He could have the opportunity to bow out with a trophy should Clement’s side lift the Viaplay Cup over Aberdeen in December.
In other Rangers news, John Bennett has demanded success in the transfer market as the Gers look to appoint a new sporting director