Borna Barisic appears to be on his way out of Rangers
Rangers: Expected Borna Barisic exit now ‘perfect’ amid talks as pundit admits ‘he’s let himself down’
Derek Ferguson believes now is the “perfect time” for Borna Barisic to leave Rangers amid talks over a move at the end of the season.
The Croatian full-back’s contract expires this summer and his agent is believed to be concluding a deal for him to move on in the coming days, amid a push from Trabzonspor to take him to the Turkish Super Lig.
Ferguson feels the defender has been a “good servant” for the Light Blues and can’t be faulted for “terrific” ability to deliver crosses from the left.
But defensively he feels the 31-year-old has “let himself down” at times and suggested that struggles in Old Firm derbies have undercut his time at the club.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News he said: “Not gutted, I think it’s the perfect time for him to make the exit.
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“I think he’s been a good servant to the club, but in saying that I think he’s let himself down at times, in some of the big games, not maybe handled the pressure if you want to call it that.
“You need a strong mentality, if you speak to some of the other guys, whether you’re Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, you need a strong mentality and I think at times the pressure seems to have got to Barisic in the big games.
“But overall in the five or six years he’s been here, terrific deliverer of crossed balls, you couldn’t fault him [for that], but just defensively he’s been found wanting.
“Just sometimes, I’m not saying all the time, but just at times in the big games he’s let himself down for me. I’m talking a few Celtic games that he’s not handled it very well.”
Borna Barisic exposed in Rangers vs Celtic clashes
There arguably isn’t a better left-footed crosser in Britain let alone Scotland but when Ridvan Yilmaz has finally taken the starting role and is able to deliver some of that quality while providing more defensively it is probably the right time for Barisic to move on.
Another left-back is expected in at Ibrox in the summer with a verbal agreement believed to be in place to belatedly complete a deal for Jefte.
At his age Barisic may not be content to sit on the bench at Rangers so if an exit is completed soon it will be another part of the Philippe Clement overhaul.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart claims the club have an expensive job on their hands if they fail amid talks with a key ace.
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