There are subplots aplenty as Rangers prepare to head to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
The Ibrox side’s stuttering start to the season is in review, with the six point gap at the top of the table at risk of widening further should the club fail to overcome the Dons.
Aberdeen too, having now won eight of their opening nine Scottish Premiership games, are hoping to position themselves as genuine title contenders.
But amid the malaise of title talk and the rekindling of an old rivalry, there’s one subplot which is going under the radar and could soon result in both clubs having their day in court.
Connor Barron set to walk Aberdeen gauntlet
When Rangers poached Connor Barron from Aberdeen this summer, the Ibrox side are said to have held off competition from the English Championship and Serie A.
But more than that, the Gers riled their Aberdeen counterparts by once again poaching one of the club’s top talents as their contract ticked down.
After Ryan Jack and Scott Wright before them, Connor Barron becomes the latest Aberdeen star to switch Pittodrie for Ibrox and move to Rangers.
Since then, it’s been quite a few months for the 22-year-old Scotland midfielder.
Rangers have given Barron major exposure to the first-team, with the young midfielder replacing the influential John Lundstram in the heart of the Ibrox pitch.
It’s a move which hasn’t been without difficulties but over the piece, Barron has impressed Rangers fans with his full-bloodied, energetic and progressive performances from a deep role on the park.
Now, the midfielder is set to return to a venomous Pittodrie which will be baying for his blood for the first time since switching Aberdeen for the famous Glasgow Rangers.
And whilst the threat of abuse and aggression from the Dons faithful is bad enough, Rangers and Aberdeen might yet wind up in court over the youngster.
Rangers face Dons court case over midfielder
That’s because Rangers and Aberdeen are yet to agree a development fee over the transfer of Connor Barron.
Whilst the Gers won the race to sign the midfielder, both clubs are required to agree a development fee over the transfer given Connor spent his formative years at Pittodrie.
If the two clubs cannot strike a deal, then the situation will go to tribunal where an independent adjudicator will decide the fee after both sides state their case.
It’s a situation which outspoken Aberdeen CEO Alan Burrows insists the Dons are ‘fully prepared’ to see through to completion.
For the time being, the sounds have gone suspiciously quiet over the arrangement as Rangers and Aberdeen negotiate over the situation in the background.
Rangers had a six figure fee around £525k rejected by the Dons, this coincidentally the figure foreign clubs would have to pay, with Aberdeen likely looking for seven figures.
It’s presented this curious situation where Connor Barron is about to walk the Pittodrie gauntlet whilst the lingering threat of a tribunal hangs over Rangers and Aberdeen.
For the midfielder however, it’s just about focusing on his own game with the chance to deal a deadly blow to his former club surely motivation enough for the midfielder.
