It wasn’t exactly a secret. But, still, it’s nice to have confirmation. One of Rangers’ key summer targets will, indeed, be available this summer.
Now, free-agents are never really free.
Even when a player’s contract runs out, there are usually agent fees to consider, signing-on fees too, and wage demands which can often be elevated due to the absence of a transfer fee. And while Connor Barron will not command the sort of eye-watering signing-on bonus like the £85 million Kylian Mbappe earns from joining Real Madrid, Rangers would not be able to simply snap up the highly-rated midfielder while keeping their wallet in their pockets.
As the Daily Record explain, Rangers would still have to pay a fee to Aberdeen, albeit one far lower than his market value. If a fee cannot be agreed – Barron now free to ink a contract at Ibrox – Rangers may be hauled in front of a tribunal.
Rangers hope to win race for Connor Barron
Barron is expected to decide on a potential move to Glasgow next week, with a ‘strong offer’ on the table. He has admirers in the English Championship; Swansea City, Cardiff, Stoke and Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle.
There is interest in Italy too, Champions League-bound Bologna keen to raid Scottish football again after the success of Aaron Hickey and club captain Lewis Ferguson.
Where Barron is plying his trade in 2024/25, then, is anyone’s guess. But it certainly won’t be Aberdeen. The Dons confirmed on Friday that the Scotland Under 21 international is one of a number of senior players – including goalkeeper Kelle Roos and former Celtic winger Jonny Hayes – who will leave when their contracts expire on July.
“Following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season last month, we can now update you on our first team squad going forward,” reads a statement on the Aberdeen website.
“We are saying goodbye to first-team players Kelle Roos, Connor Barron, Anthony Stewart and, of course, Jonny Hayes.
“The club made several offers to try and persuade Connor to stay at Aberdeen. But he has decided his future will lie elsewhere.”
Aberdeen confirm star midfielder’s departure
Barron, should he opt for Rangers, would follow in the footsteps of Scott Wright and Ryan Jack. He feels like a good bet to succeed the latter, the former Aberdeen skipper saying his goodbyes and leaving room in Philippe Clement’s squad for an aggressive, all-round central midfielder in Barron’s mould.
Barry Ferguson, Rangers’ five-time Scottish Premiership winning captain, would be delighted to see one of the most exciting homegrown talents around follow in his royal blue footsteps.
Ferguson has, after all, questioned his former employers for not making better use of local talent with Josh Doig, Hickey and his nephew Lewis all moving abroad rather than staying in Scotland.
“I think he’s a good young player,” Ferguson now tells Go Radio as the race for Barron’s signature heats up.
“Is he going to really strengthen the Rangers midfield? It’s difficult when you play for a team like Aberdeen and you come with the pressure and the amount of stuff that is on your shoulders. The demands and expectations…
“(But) he’s a good player. At the price, I would probably go and take a chance on him. When I’ve seen Aberdeen, he’s certainly impressed me.
“But, it is a whole different ball game when you go to Rangers.”
Clement’s side are also keen on another free-agent Scot. Goalkeeper Liam Kelly is leaving Livingston this summer.
