Bundesliga starlet and Rangers target Denis Huseinbasic is in the midst of a ‘slump’ after losing his place in the Cologne starting XI.
That is according to Zvjezdan Misimovic; director of the Bosnia and Herzegovina team and the man tasked with encouraging Huseinbasic to commit his international future to the Eastern European nation.
The 21-year-old made his debut for Germany’s U21 side last year. Misimovic, however, is not giving up hope just yet; Huseinbasic finding himself at the centre of an international tug-of-war.
“Unfortunately, if we had played friendly matches in November, Denis Huseinbasic would certainly have responded. In the meantime, he received an offer from the German youth team,” Misimovic tells Sport1.
“I am in constant contact with him. It was explained to us from his side that there is a fear that he will lose his status, i.e. his place in the Cologne team, if he does not respond to the young German national team.
“There are really all kinds of situations and pressures. And, sometimes, you have to be patient, as I said about Huseinbasic.”
Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic like Denis Huseinbasic
German-born Huseinbasic may soon have a decision to make regarding his future at club level too. He is under contract at Cologne until 2025. According to BILD, however, that has not stopped clubs in England, France and Scotland from expressing their interest; Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic among them.
With Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack out of contract, Rangers are in pursuit of a new midfielder, one potentially capable of partnering Nicolas Raskin in a new-look engine room.
Huseinbasic has scored three Bundesliga goals since making the step up from the fourth-tier last summer, but has found first-team action hard to come by of late. He hasn’t started a game since being subbed off at half-time during February’s 3-0 hammering at relegation-threatened Stuttgart.
“He went from the fourth league directly to the first league and started playing,” Misimovic adds. “That’s a big jump in his career. Right now, he’s in a slump.
“He hasn’t played for the last five or six weeks, but it’s a normal maturation process for a young player. I think he’s a good enough character to get out of it.”
If Cologne cannot guarantee Huseinbasic a bigger role going forward, however, the summer window could offer an opportunity for some reflection. Rangers have already made excellent use of the Bundesliga market over the last 12 months; Malik Tillman shining on loan from Bayern Munich.
