Barry Ferguson claims Rangers star has deal all but tied up to quit Ibrox for good
Barry Ferguson believes Rangers defender Borna Barisic has a deal “all but tied up” to leave Ibrox for Trabzonspor.
The 31-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer transfer window.
And Turkish side Trabsonzpor have been heavily linked with a move for the left-back, as well as registering their interest in fellow out-of-contract Rangers star John Lundstram.
While no deal has officially been confirmed, Ferguson thinks Barisic’s future is as good as decided – but is adamant that the Croatian is fully focused on ending the season well with Rangers, telling the Daily Record (3 May): “Did you see, for example, the way Barisic celebrated the winner from Cyriel Dessers at St Mirren at the weekend? He was very nearly halfway up the stairs of the stand with the ultras in the away end! Did that look like a man whose heart is no longer in it?
“He’s already got his next deal all but tied up with Trabzonspor but the joy was written all over his face when that ball hit the back of the net.”
Rangers ready to move on from Borna Barisic
Barisic arrived at Rangers from Croatian side NK Osijek in the busy summer of 2018, when a raft of new faces were drafted under then-manager Steven Gerrard.
His signing was perhaps less heralded than some, but he went on to become an integral part of a successful side that won the Scottish Premiership in 2021, the Scottish FA Cup the following year and the Scottish League Cup this season – with the team still in contention for both aforementioned trophies.
Barisic has made 234 appearances for Rangers in all competitions across his six seasons at the club, scoring 10 goals and providing 54 assists – a successful signing indeed, by any measure.
However, it does feel as though this summer is the right time for a parting of ways. Ridvan Yilmaz, nine years Barisic’s junior, has leapfrogged the Croatian in the left-back pecking order and a contract extension for a player who turns 32 in November perhaps makes less sense than acquiring a new face.
When Barisic waves goodbye to Ibrox, he will hope to do so having claimed at least one more trophy in Rangers colours.
In other Rangers news, a regular Clement starter is now going to sign a deal to leave the club.
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