As Rangers’ season collapses in the final furlong, Leon Balogun’s Ibrox career is at a crossroads.
The 36-year-old centre-half was arguably the club’s top performing defender when recalled this season but in the final three games of the Premiership campaign Rangers lost Leon to a back injury.
Back in the starting XI for the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic – a match Rangers were once again desperately unlucky with VAR in – this was perhaps the defender’s final chance to win a new contract.
And heaven knows Leon Balogun tried.
Now, the Nigerian defender, one of six out of contract in the summer, has been discussing his future following that bitterly disappointing 1-0 defeat.
Balogun update on Rangers situation
Speaking ahead of the clash with Celtic, Philippe Clement suggested that several of his players were very much ‘drinking in the last chance saloon’.
Suggesting that Saturday’s Cup Final would be a chance to win over any doubts before next season, the Rangers manager set a challenge to his team.
Leon Balogun, who certainly must come into that category, started well alongside Ben Davies but as the game wore on, and Rangers tired, so did the defender.
Losing Celtic sub Adam Idah for the striker to score the only goal of the game, it’s a moment which certainly stings and when pressed on his future after the match Balogun wasn’t in the mood to talk.
However the defender, as ever, reiterated his love of Rangers and his commitment to the Ibrox cause.
”We’ll see (what the future holds),” said Balogun. “First I have to deal with this defeat now, try to switch off a bit and see what the next weeks bring.
“I stood here two years ago and pretty much opened up about how much I love the club, that hasn’t changed.
“So definitely there’s an openness but again for me I have to digest today and then we’ll see.”
Should Rangers retain out of contract star?
Rangers’ defensive issues in a crucial part of the season have been well documented.
For the majority of the campaign, the club’s four centre-back choices in Connor Goldson, Ben Davies, John Souttar and Leon Balogun were actually outperforming every other team in the division.
But with all four suffering injuries at various points of the campaign, the lack of fitness and general cohesion had a substantial impact on the end of the season.
Philippe Clement has been clear that the club’s depressing injury record can’t stretch into next season so it’s no surprise that Panamanian centre-back Jose Cordoba is being lined up to join.
It begs the question of who will drop out and Leon Balogun, given his contract is about to expire, could make the most sense of the current four options.
John Souttar is a homegrown Scotland international, Connor Goldson is the club’s vice-captain and Ben Davies is, finally, showing what he can do after a £3m+ switch from Liverpool.
The one thing potentially set to swing in Balogun’s favour is the club’s record with injuries, with five senior centre-back options not a bad idea given the last few campaigns.
It would mean that Balogun would have to settle for less games but with Rangers very much in the German-born Nigerian’s heart, we don’t think that would be too much of an issue.
With Balogun an experienced, composed head that can help our young players develop, having the big man around next season for his presence off the pitch doesn’t sound like a bad idea.
