If reports from Turkey (as claimed by The Scotsman) are believed to be true, Super Lig champions Trabzonspor, as well as a couple of other Turkish sides, are keeping close tabs on Borna Barisic over a potential summer transfer. But the Rangers left-back is not alone on the Black Sea Storm’s radar as they are also closing in on AC Milan’s Fode Ballo-Toure, Mehmet Batuhan Ağır of Tv100 understands.
Trabzonspor roped in İsmail Köybaşı last summer, who, however, failed to impress as the left fullback. Tymoteusz Puchacz has made a decent impact since completing a January loan from Union Berlin, but the Polish defender is expected to return to his parent club with a view to cementing his place for the Bundesliga outfit. Gaffer Abdullah Avcı needs reinforcements in that area and Barisic, given his experience down the wide, has emerged as one of their potential targets along with Ballo-Toure.
The Croatian progressed through the youth ranks of Osijek before joining BSK Bijelo Brdo for first-team football. He returned to his boyhood side one year later and impressed enough to secure a transfer to Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2015. Barisic was soon sent on a season-long loan to their feeder club Lokomotiva but was brought back by Osijek following a private takeover. Rangers, under Steven Gerrard, tied him down for a fee of around £2.2m, weeks after playing against the White and Blues in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
Rangers Must Make The Call
Although he has been a regular for them in recent years, a lack of form of late saw him losing his place to Calvin Bassey in the defensive third. The Nigerian, meanwhile, proved to be a revelation in the heart of the backline since being deployed as a makeshift centre-half following injuries to Filip Helander and Leon Balogun. The Croatia international, therefore, was restored to the starting lineup once more to deal with the fitness woes.
Being contracted until the summer of 2024, Barisic has made more than 150 appearances for the Ibrox hotshots. The Light Blues won’t let him leave for a cut-price figure even though they must generate funds from player sales to snap up a new left fullback.
West Ham United’s Emmanuel Longelo, as well as Josh Tymon of Stoke City, have been among the reported targets. The Gers have bolstered the central defence by wrapping up John Souttar from Hearts. Nevertheless, the departure of Bassey would leave a massive void if a transfer takes place amid interest from a host of Premier League clubs. It remains to be seen whether the Glasgow giants part ways with their veteran left-back in due course of time.
