Should Rangers make a move for Osijek star?

The 25-year-old captain of Rangers’ opponents Osijek is Borna Barišić, a versatile 6’ 1” left sided footballer.

He could play for Rangers in a back three, with Barišić on the left of the three, and he would be equally comfortable playing at left back. If that is not enough, he would make a wonderful left-wing-back. His crossing is fantastic, and he is dangerous by timing his runs to perfection and is definitely a very gifted international player.

It is the first time I have seen this player, and boy, was I impressed! Check out his ability at Ibrox next week, because I think he would make a very good addition for Rangers, and I don’t see him being overly expensive.

In 2017, Barišić played three times for Croatia, the beaten finalists of the World Cup, and is hoping to fight his way back into the new squad. In May ‘18 he was in Croatia’s preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Unfortunately, he didn’t make the final 23 cut, but if he had made the squad, he would have become much more expensive and out of the ‘Gers financial budget.

Gerrard pointed out Barišić’s talent before the match, and spelt out the danger he would cause us due to his ability to deliver exquisite and extremely dangerous crosses into our box. Tavernier were you listening to your boss? As time after time Barišić found himself wide left on his own to deliver those wonderful crosses that Stevie had warned everybody about.

Indeed, a deep ball on 13 minutes to Barišić wide on the left saw a sumptuous volley cross from the distinctive bandaged cranium of the captain, which completely caught Rangers’ counterpart out, and but for a better finish may have seen a goal.

Barišić playing for Osijek exposed Tavernier in the same way that Celtic do. He is never a top class right back at the highest level, and he will always cost us goals as well as making some for us. On occasions he can be a complete liability in defence.

In spite of Barišić playing brilliantly against us, in four games now the defence have performed fairly well and haven’t lost a goal. A lot of the credit is down to keeper McGregor who has pulled off some wonderful shot saving goals and has looked commanding in all the games so far.

The fact that Rangers have already signed Croatian Nikola Katic would help Barišić to settle in Scotland more quickly, if Gerrard would like to buy him – of course.