The analyst for Viaplay Sports made the assertion in real time during the channel’s broadcast of the team’s 2-0 victory against Ayr United in the Scottish Cup on February 10. He suggested that the Croatian defender’s time was running out since Ridvan Yilmaz had surpassed him and his contract was about to expire.
With his first goal in a year, Barisic, 31, opened the score at Ibrox with a deflected drive that might have been called an own goal.
“It’s a hard one because it looks like Borna Barisic is heading for the exit door, doesn’t it?” Craigan asked at halftime (6:35 p.m.). Yilmaz has participated in most games since Philippe Clement entered the team without a contract.
The writing is clearly on the wall. But you still have an obligation to play when you get the chance.
“Player Borna Barisic has proven to be dependable. Yes, of course he has a tremendous left foot. He is doing fairly well. He is doing well. But where will he be in the long run?
“He’ll definitely be claiming to have scored that goal tonight.”
Barisic on the way out at Rangers claims Craigan live
Yilmaz was the player who appeared to be departing the team quickly during the January transfer window.
He was strongly connected to a move to Hellas Verona prior to Galatasaray pursuing him for several weeks without being able to reach the Rangers’ asking price.
The 22-year-old was still at Ibrox when the transfer window closed, and he is currently enjoying his greatest season since joining from Besiktas two summers ago. It looks as though he has finally displaced Barisic as the starting left-back.
Rangers may find value in a short-term extension depending on what transpires in the upcoming transfer window, but if they were anxious to keep the senior of the two past the summer, they obviously wouldn’t have allowed him to enter the final six months of his contract.
If Yilmaz has indeed turned the corner, only a large sum of money will be able to make him move, and Jefte, who was scheduled to arrive in January following the completion of a transaction, is anticipated to do so.
Following his transfer being stalled by current loan team APOEL Nicosia, Fluminense and Barisic verbally agreed to proceed with a summer move, ostensibly setting up a replacement for Barisic.
However, there are a lot of moving pieces involved in that, and none of the three defenders’ contracts are finalized just yet, so it won’t be evident until closer to the start of next season who starts for Rangers.
