Croat Borna Barisic looks set to join Rangers in a multi-million pound move. The athletic, attacking full back is undergoing a medical after impressing in the Ibrox club’s recent double-header with NK Osijek.
We look at what the Osijek captain has to offer the club and whether the reported £2.2mn spent will prove to be a sound bit of business by the Glasgow giants.
A leader on and off the field
While some of those involved with NK Osijek were accused of mind-games in the run up to the Rangers tie, Barisic very much did his talking on the pitch. He could run for, well, Croatia, and after scoring the equaliser last week, the classy full back spoke immensely highly of the Rangers fans. He said he would “love to play at Ibrox every game”. He’s mature beyond his years and a clear winner.
Could be a fan favourite.
An attacking yet reliable presence on the left
The left-hand side has been somewhat of a trouble position for the Teddy Bears in recent years. A mixture of injuries and ill-discipline denying the club a consistent reliable force flying down the wing on that side. Couple that with the success of Tavernier and Candeias on the opposite side last season and at times the team has felt unbalanced. Barisic really looked useful against Rangers, and with a big-reputation in Croatia coming with him, he could end up proving to be the top option there in the league.
Jon Flanagan has done a great job deputising, but Rangers might well have solved a problem position here.
International pedigree, international class, international value
Barisic narrowly missed out on making the Croatia team that reached the World Cup final in Russia. He was in the preliminary squad and has had a total of three caps for his country. At the tender age of 25, expect him to make a few more in the future.
If you make it to the final 30 of a World Cup finalist nation’s squad – playing alongside Modric, Perisic and Rakitic – you can certainly hold your own in the Scottish Premiership. Suddenly the reported £2.2mn doesn’t seem much at all. All signs suggest he will be worth a lot more within the next year and become a really valuable asset to the Rangers squad.
This is a strong signing from Gerrard which adds value, and the speed at which the club seem to have gotten it over the line is to be commended.
