The signs look ominous for fringe Rangers star Brandon Barker after the English winger was left out of the club’s Europa League squad.
Barker, 24, remains at Rangers despite multiple reports claiming the club were endeavouring to move the pacey wide man on this summer.
Signed in the summer of 2019, things haven’t quite worked out as planned for the former England youth international with this decision further evidence of how far the player is down the pecking order at Ibrox.
The winger joins veteran player/coach Jermain Defoe, fourth-choice centre-half Jack Simpson, back-up goalkeeper Andy Firth and the side-lined Nnamdi Ofoborh in missing out from the squad.
Yet to make a competitive appearance this campaign, Barker’s contract is set to expire come the end of the season but according to one journalist this may change “soon”.
Barker’s high wages at Ibrox – reported by the Daily Record to be over £10k per week – are believed to be the highest stumbling block to moving the player on.
This was reiterated by the Athletic’s Jordan Campbell, who believes that there may be a solution to the situation in the coming weeks.
“Difficult to move him on a permanent given wages, as has been the case with many players in recent years,” said Campbell.
“Been told something may be happening on him soon though.”
Whether that’s a mutual termination of contract or another transfer solution it remains to be seen but the player’s absence from the Europa League squad is an ominous sign.
A former Man City youth, Barker’s career hasn’t quite reached its early promise and his time at Rangers has been disappointing over the piece.
The player spent the second half of last season on loan at Oxford United and we suspect that we’re unlikely to see him turning out for Rangers again any time soon.
Here’s more on the Europa League squad as two Ibrox summer signings are added for the competition’s group stages.