According to a video on Talking Shutt’s YouTube channel, Leeds United midfielder Barry Douglas has admitted that he was a Rangers fan growing up. He said, “I grew up in Pollok which is literally five minutes from Ibrox, so my family were predominantly Rangers fans.
“So I grew up being a Rangers fan. But once you start playing, and breaking into the senior ranks, it changes a bit. You always have your club in your heart, but when you’re playing for points week in week out, it changes it a little bit.”
A report by Leeds Live earlier in the month categorised all the Whites’ players into divisions based on the likelihood of them having a long-term future at Elland Road. Barry Douglas was one of the players that writer Beren Cross thought would only be at the club only in the short-term. The Scot’s current deal at Leeds United is set to expire at the end of the 2021 league season as well, making a summer departure an even stronger possibility.
What Is Barry Douglas’ Situation At Elland Road?
The 30-year-old was signed up from current Premier League high-flyers Wolverhampton Wanderers in the back of their Championship winning campaign in the summer of 2018. Despite arriving with reasonably lofty expectations, it must be conceded that the 30-year-old has failed to make the impact the fans would have been hoping for. The former Lech Poznan man has featured just 11 times in the league all campaign, with most of those opportunities coming off the bench as well.
Moreover, the sheer amount of competition for the left-back position at Elland Road is inexplicably high, with Ezgjan Alioski, Stuart Dallas and even young Leif Davis all fighting for the same spot. Despite creating five assists from 26 first-team appearances in the Championship last season, the experienced Scot has struggled to maintain that form into this campaign, and it does look like his time as a Leeds United player is coming to an end.
What Would Douglas Add To This Rangers Side?
Rangers themselves have been facing a few issues in the left-back slot, owing largely to the fact that Borna Barisic remains the Scottish club’s only natural option in the role. More worryingly, 90min reported last month that massive clubs like Tottenham and Roma are keeping tabs on the Croatian, meaning that Steven Gerrard could have to offload their highly-rated left-back soon. In such a situation, the addition of an experienced head like Barry Douglas to try and provide cover in the left-back slot could turn out to be a smart move.
Versatile midfielder Andy Halliday has been the Gers’ second choice left-back this season, and the addition of a more composed and assured option like Douglas could allow the Gers the choice of not extending Halliday’s contract. With just a year left on his current deal, 30-year-old Barry Douglas should be available for a nominal fee in the summer window and given their current left-back predicament, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers will do well to sign him up.
