Rangers transfer news: Commentator moots Borna Barisic exit live on BBC Sportsound at Dumbarton amid ‘puzzle to solve’ at Ibrox
Borna Barisic’s time at Rangers appears to be coming to an end with his Rangers contract set to expire, Alisdair Lamont suggested live on BBC Sportsound.
The commentator reacted to the Croatian being on the bench for the Scottish Cup win over Dumbarton on 20 January to claim that his assumed departure was part of a “puzzle to solve” at the position for Philippe Clement.
Ridvan Yilmaz started for the 4-1 victory, as he did in the previous four SPFL matches before the winter break, but has himself been heavily linked to an exit this month.
Speaking live on the BBC Sportsound commentary of the game in the first half Lamont said (6.10pm): “Borna Barisic on the bench this evening. His contract’s up at the end of the season.
“He looks like he’ll be departing, so Rangers have a bit of puzzle to solve in terms of their left-back situation.”
Turnover
If Barisic does leave at the end of his contract then the Light Blues are certainly going to need to have worked out a solution to Yilmaz’s future by then.
The Turkey international currently looks like a good bet to take over the long-term starter’s role at Ibrox, but there have been false dawns before in his year and a half at the club.
That Rangers are linked to left-back targets this month, and manager Philippe Clement hasn’t entirely shut down speculation over the 22-year-old’s future, suggests they are open to swapping him out.
What the Gers surely need to avoid is to arrive at the end of the campaign in the situation they are currently in, with questions over the long-term suitability of an alternative to Barisic leading to his time being extended by default.
If the club want to keep the 31-year-old on merit then a new deal might make sense, or indeed if transfer interest from the likes of Leeds United would mean banking a fee [Football Scotland, 12 January].
But, ever since he lost his place to Calvin Bassey two seasons ago prior to the Nigeria international’s big money move to Ajax, it is an enduring sign of the general failure of the transfer policy at Ibrox that Barisic has remained the usual starter primarily due to a lack of a viable alternative.
If the right offer arrives for Yilmaz then it looks like his recent run of good form may have come too late to salvage his Rangers career, but whether it includes the Turk or his senior teammate, there appears to be movement of some form at left-back on the horizon either way.
In other Rangers news, the club knows the asking price for one attacking target following a January approach after two signings were made with the money.
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