Following reports suggesting that Borna Barisic already has a deal agreed in principle with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, you can expect no shortage of reports linking Rangers with new left-backs over the coming months.
Already since the turn of the year, Owen Beck, Anass Salah-Eddine, Fredrik Oppegard and quite a few more – including the Hearts-bound James Penrice – have been mentioned as potential additions to Philippe Clement’s squad.
A January deal for Jefte Vital, meanwhile, could have been completed if not for APOEL Nicosia’s reluctance to cut short the Fluminense-owned defender’s loan spell in Cyprus.
Borna Barisic needs to be replaced by Rangers
Rangers could still return for Jefte in the summer, with Barisic’s contract expiring on July 1.
Another of the left-backs mentioned as a potential replacement for the long-serving replacement is also set to become a free-agent in a couple of months from now. And one of the worst-kept secrets in Dutch football has now been confirmed, FC Twente explaining on their official website that Gijs Smal – linked with Rangers via publications both in Scotland and the Netherlands – will be on his way out of Enschede when the current campaign comes to an end.
“Ricky van Wolfwinkel, Joshua Brenet and Gijs Smal have expiring contracts,” the statement reads. “Gijs Smal has indicated that he will not renew his contract at FC Twente and will, in principle, leave the club at the end of the season.”
Twente add that they are still in discussions to retain striker Van Wolfswinkel. The Eredivisie high-flyers appear to have accepted defeat with regards to Smal, however, a man who was valued at around £2.5 million after topping the league’s assist charts last term having seemingly made up his mind.
Now, everything points to Feyenoord – rather than Ibrox – being Smal’s eventual destination. But as long as there is no official confirmation of his move to the reigning Dutch champions, Clement’s side cannot entirely be ruled out of the race.
Feyenoord move has not yet been confirmed
“Of course, my phone exploded (when the speculation emerged). I put it away after fifteen minutes!,” Smal told ESPN a couple of weeks ago.
“I thought it was strange that something like this would come out anyway, because there is nothing yet. Look, I would be lying if I said that I have never had contact with them (Feyenoord). I am a free transfer, so I am getting my bearings.
“I have also been in contact with other clubs. Only now, they are pretending I am already a Feyenoord player, and that is simply not true.”
According toreports in Turkey, Trabzonspor are looking to lure John Lundstram to the banks of the Black Sea alongside Barisic. Lundstram too is out of contract this summer, and it would be a massive blow for Rangers to lose one of their most influential players.
At least, with Barisic, Rangers already have a talented left-back ready to make the spot his own in the ever-improving Ridvan Yilmaz.
