Rangers: ‘Crazy’ Connor Barron situation at Aberdeen leaves door open for Ibrox move
Derek Ferguson can’t believe that Aberdeen have left the door open for Rangers to potentially sign Connor Barron due to his contract situation.
The 21-year-old’s deal expires in the summer and he changed his agents ahead of the January transfer window to increase speculation about his future [Aberdeen Live, 12 December], with Philippe Clement refusing to comment on subsequent links to an Ibrox switch [Football Scotland, 19 January].
BBC Sport pundit Ferguson feels there is “a lot to work with” if the Belgian does decide to move for the midfielder, although he is cautious about his injury record given the trials on that front at Ibrox this season, but thinks it is “crazy” that the Dons have failed to lock down one of their best young talents.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News he said: “The only thing with Connor, I think he’s picked up quite a few injuries, over the course of the last couple of seasons.
“It’s maybe held him back in terms of performances and getting more games under his belt, [but] there’s a lot to work with there.
“And that contract situation that happened with Connor at Aberdeen, it’s crazy.
“If they thought the world of that boy they’d have had him tied up in a long-term contract, which is quite baffling to me.
“Aberdeen reputedly, they keep telling us, are the third-biggest team in Scotland, so you’d think their best players they would be getting them tied up on long-term deals.“
Rangers to snap up Pittodrie midfielder this summer?
Barron did see last season derailed at the start and end by two significant injuries, and since he’s been mooted as a potential replacement for Ryan Jack this summer a propensity to be unavailable due to fitness issues is one element he wouldn’t want to replicate.
The former Dons midfielder is likely to depart when his own contract expires at Ibrox due to regular set backs keeping him out of action, so if Clement is interested in Barron’s ability he might be put off by the injury record.
At the same time it would be a low-cost signing, and he has rebounded this term to make 34 appearances so far in all competitions while starting regularly since the turn of the year.
It therefore wouldn’t be a shock to see him turn up at Ibrox in the summer, but the recruitment department may see him as a fallback option if other targets don’t pan out.
In other Rangers news, BBC pundits were left in disbelief as they felt the laws of the game had been incorrectly applied amid controversy at Ibrox.
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