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When Rangers signed Dujon Sterling on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer, the Scottish Premiership giants appeared to have snapped up a right-back to provide competition for captain James Tavernier.
What The Gers fans probably didn’t expect, however, was that the former Stoke City loanee would also be a fine addition to Philippe Clement’s midfield, slotting into a central role when required while never looking out of place even for a second. Sterling has thrived as a buccaneering right-winger too and, against Celtic in Sunday’s 3-3 Old Firm derby thriller, added yet another string to his ever-crowded bow with a fine display on the left.
With Ridvan Yilmaz injured and Borna Barisic ill, Sterling got the nod to start on the opposite flank.
Dujon Sterling an inspired addition by Rangers
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“Borna had some problems this week, he was sick,” Clement would explain. “I want freshness for sure from the start off the game with power in the one-against-one duels because we know the wingers of Celtic are strong in that way.
“We want to hurt them also offensively by playing with our full-backs. That’s why Dujon is in. It’s the first time with me he played left full-back.”
Sterling, typically, took to his new role with trademark enthusiasm and aggression. Whether he is a seen by Clement as a long-term option for the left-sided spot remains to be seen. But, with Barisic’s contract expiring in the summer, that stand-out display against Celtic may give the former Monaco boss some food for thought.
Read more: Rangers confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits, releases for 2023/24
Borna Barisic appers set for Ibrox exit
Barisic, who joined Rangers in a £2 million deal from Osijek back in 2018, has reportedly reached ‘an agreement in principle’ with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor. There were concerns that a change in Super Lig rules – top-flight clubs will only be able to register 12 foreign players next season – but the Milliyet newspaper insists that things are still moving in the right direction.
Trabzonspor, who have also been linked with the Croatian’s Rangers team-mate John Lundstram, are now ‘in the final stages of signing Barisic’.
The Glasgow giants have been mentioned alongside a host of potential replacements, from Owen Beck to Gijs Smal and Jefte Vital. But assuming Yilmaz stays – and it looks likely he will – could Sterling’s consistency and versatility ensure that Rangers do not need to spend on a replacement?