John Lundstram and Borna Barisic accused of phoning in Rangers performances ahead of exit
Borna Barisic doesn’t want to be at Rangers any more and John Lundstram appears to have gone off the boil because he had an exit on his mind, says Tam McManus.
The former Hibs striker told PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show (29 April) that neither of the two exit-bound Light Blues players will be a major blow to the club based on their recent contributions, with both seemingly elsewhere mentally already after Croatian defender Barisic went off with an innocuous-looking injury against St Mirren while English midfielder Lundstram doesn’t seem committed to making tackles.
Both are believed to have agreed deals to move to Trabzonspor in Turkey on free transfer once their contracts expire this summer.
Asked by Peter Martin if the pair who would be a great loss McManus said: “No, I think the first part of the season [with] Lundstram you’d have said yes, but I think he’s went off the boil over the last six, seven, eight weeks.
“Maybe he’s got something in the back of his mind in terms of moving on, he doesn’t look as aggressive in the tackle, and he’s got something maybe lined up, talking about Trabzonspor.
“And Barisic as well. Barisic, I think, has been a good servant for Rangers, but I think you’ve seen yesterday, makes a run, picks a knock up, comes off. I don’t think he wants to be at Rangers any more, he’s only playing because they’re down to the bare bones.
“So I don’t think either of them are great losses for Rangers.”
Philippe Clement to miss exit-bound Rangers pair?
On the strength of their last few months’ worth of contributions Rangers won’t be missing a huge amount if the pair at in Turkey next season.
But although Barisic has lost his place to Ridvan Yilmaz this term Lundstram has been almost ever-present under Philippe Clement.
The Belgian was unusually definitive as he indicated his apparently certainty that the former Sheffield United man would agree a new contract last month.
As that appears not to be happening it remains to be seen whether the manager if left more disappointed with the club or his former player, with the relationship between coach and board potentially a concern going forward if he is unhappy with how things played out.
Either way both will need replacing, and when permanent deals for Abdallah Sima and Oscar Cortes may need to be explored, a long-anticipated push to sign Lawrence Shankland potentially on the cards, a new goalkeeper possibly required, and a number of gaps likely needing to be filled in the defence it all adds up.
There is a cheap option available to slip into the midfield, while a new left-back was thought to already be agreed before recent doubt was shed on that, but there looks to be a long list of jobs to do for Clement and Nils Koppen this season.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are set for an unexpected cash return after a stunning revival.
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