Plan B – Leon Balogun could do Rangers a massive turn at left back

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Plan B – Leon Balogun could do Rangers a massive turn at left back
BRAGA, PORTUGAL - APRIL 07: Leon Balogun of Rangers FC warms up ahead of the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Leg One match between Sporting Braga and Rangers FC at Estadio Municipal de Braga on April 07, 2022 in Braga, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Leon Balogun for LB.

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It’s really not that complicated, with Dujon Sterling best served in midfield (not that that will happen) and Borna Barisic best served in the stands, Rangers need someone reliable at LB with first choice Ridvan Yilmaz unavailable short term.

Sterling did a solid turn v Celtic but many do argue he could have been stronger at their third goal and it’s just not his natural slot. He also cannot offer width on the left and is naturally a right footer.

Enter Balogun.

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Now, ironically he can’t technically offer much more on the left than Sterling can, and is also a rightie, but his use there would do two major things:

Free up Sterling to go into midfield, and give Rangers an experienced hand at the back to help stabilise after a very rocky Old Firm.

Balogun is about as pro as a pro gets – Rangers manager Philippe Clement thinks hugely of the Nigerian, and he’s massively-respected at the club, by staff, youth, players and of course the fans.

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He has never let the club down and at 35 can call on such a wealth of experience, with his time in the Bundesliga showing the quality he has in his locker.

He is also extremely quick, for one of his age he has an astonishing burst of pace.

In short, he would be the imperfect solution at LB.

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Barisic just isn’t in the headspace for it any more, and more or less pretended to be ill to get out of being in the Old Firm, while Sterling isn’t best used there, despite doing ok on Sunday.

But Balogun is an old pro, a warhorse who can easily occupy any position at the rearguard, and even did so for Mainz v Bayern in a 2-2. Sure, he’s not played it a lot, but he can do it.

It just frees up Sterling to be better deployed elsewhere and gives John Souttar more support on his side, with Sterling just not a left back.

Obviously, neither is Balogun, but of he, Sterling and Barisic, who would you prefer?!

It makes sense to us, anyway.

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