As Rangers stalwart Borna Barisic prepares to enter discussions over a switch to Turkey, it’s re-opened the situation with Brazilian left-back Jefte.
Reports emerged this week that Barisic – who has been at Rangers since 2018 – is set for discussions with current Turkish champions Trabzonspor about a summer move.
The 31-year-old Croatian international has been at Ibrox since the summer of 2018 but has recently found himself out of the team due to the form of Ridvan Yilmaz.
With Borna Barisic out of contract come the end of the season, it’s looking increasingly likely the left-back will be moving out of Rangers in the summer.
And Jefte may well be coming in.
Jefte to replace Borna Barisic at Rangers?
That then opens up a discussion about who is going to come into Rangers to replace the Ibrox stalwart.
Should Borna Barisic leave the club in the summer, then the defender will have given his best years to Rangers and all that experience will be going out the door with him.
In the January window – amid much speculation surrounding the likes of Ridvan Yilmaz and a move to Galatasaray – APOEL left-back Jefte, who is only 20, was a strong candidate.
On loan from Brazilian side Fluminense and out-of-contract in the summer, Rangers were strong suitors for the left-back who has impressed in Cyprus this season.
Complications around the financing of a deal led to its eventual collapse, but the likes of Fabrizio Romano have suggested we’ll return in the summer.
Should Barisic leave Ibrox, then you can rest-assured Jefte’s name will be high up on the list of players tipped to come into the squad and replace him.
Ibrox star’s agent to jet out to Italy
Interestingly, according to one journalist the discussions around Borna Barisic’s representatives and a Rangers transfer exit will ramp up in Italy next week.
This is part of the TransferRoom Summit, for which Rangers Director of Recruitment Nils Koppen is already a confirmed participant.
At least that’s according to Derek Clark, who suggests that Borna Barisic’s representatives will look to “firm up” any exit in Rome.
With it looking increasingly likely Borna Barisic will be headed out of Rangers, it would represent the end of an era for the Croatian at Ibrox.
The left-back has made 230 appearances for Rangers – including 29 this season – whilst he’s scored 10 goals for the club across his six seasons in Glasgow.
