By the time Philippe Clement leads Rangers out for the first time in 2024/24, the Scottish Premiership giants may have bid farewell to pretty much the entire spine of that title-winning team under Steven Gerrard.
Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield Glen Kamara and Allan McGregor left last year, while Joe Aribo and Steven Davis are no longer around at Ibrox these days either.
This summer, speculation over James Tavernier and Connor Goldson is growing, reports suggesting that Gerrard wants to reunite with his former Rangers lieutenants in Saudi Arabia. Ryan Jack’s contract is expiring too, with talk over an extension going quiet.
And then there is Borna Barisic and John Lundstram. A duo who may find themselves sharing a dressing room again next season, but not in Glasgow.
Two long-serving Rangers stars could leave for Turkey
Barisic, one of the longest-serving members of Clement’s squad six years on from his £2 million arrival from NK Osijek, lost his place Scottish Sun after Christmas while Rangers continue to scour the market for a younger model.
Lundstram, in contrast, remains a hugely important part of Clement’s plans. But he has reportedly entered talks over a deal that could see him follow Barisic to Turkey with Super Lig giants Trabzonspor (Scottish Sun).
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan said a few days ago that movement was expected regarding a number of potential arrivals imminently. Speaking again, one week on, Dogan now claims that the Black Sea outfit have reached the ‘completion stage’ with three of their transfer targets.
“Three transfers are done. One more transfer is coming to an end,” Dogan tells A Spor. “We already had three transfers that have recently reached the completion stage.”
According to Haber61, the ‘three transfers’ Dogan is referring to are Barisic, Lundstram and Denis Dragus, the Standard Liege-owned striker who has impressed in Turkey on loan at Gazientep this season.
The one ‘coming to an end’, meanwhile, is reportedly Clermont Foot ace Muhammed Cham.
Barisic and Lundstram are out of contract
“We started planning the new season long ago,” the president adds. “We are trying to have a transfer window without making mistakes with the signings. There will be young and talented names. There will also be names that are truly experienced and will add value to the team.
“But we do not have the luxury of making mistakes this year.”
Both now in their 30s, Barisic and Lundstram fall into the ‘truly experienced’ camp. Yilmaz already appears to have the left-back spot sewn up long-term.
Lundstram, however, may be more difficult to replace. Eduard Spertsyan is a midfielder Rangers do like, HITC have been told, but Krasnodar are expected to demand a club-record fee of around £13 million for the silky Armenia international.
