Reports are doing the rounds this morning that Croat left back Borna Barisic, no longer apparently injured, is a major target for home country side Zagreb, with the window in Croatia still open for a short while longer.
Now, this is probably agent talk to try to force Rangers’ hand into extending Borna’s deal, but nevertheless the Croat’s situation is going the same way as Alfredo’s and Kent’s did.
That is to say he, like John Lundstram, is out of contract next summer and there’s been much made about a contract extension – many argue if they’re not being extended, sell them immediately.
It’s hard to disagree with that. Both of them are marketable assets and have value, and Rangers arguably lost £30M-£40M with both Kent and Morelos leaving for nothing – a truly scandalous situation that can’t be allowed to repeat, and if this interest from Croatia is a true thing, Rangers must either sell or extend.
The board basically have a decision to make here – whether this is indeed agent talk trying to make things happen with the Croat’s extension we don’t know, but it is either sell now or give the man a longer deal.
How much is Barisic worth?
Unfortunately his former peak days of being a national first pick and assisting like a worldie in the Europa League are rather behind him – back then he could have been anything up to £10M – not unlike his former Celtic rival Juranovic who was/is a first pick and went to Berlin for an initial £7.5M and rising.
Now? Transfermarkt claim his value is around £5M+ and we’d take that happily.
But with no Borna, it would be just Ridvan for that slot, which really isn’t enough depth. Aside Yfeko, Sterling and Balogun, there are no options, and we can’t really go into a full season with those three as Ridvan’s deputies.
Much to ponder.