As the season wound to a close so did the Rangers careers of several of the club’s top players.
The Gers released no fewer than five of the Ibrox side’s most senior and long-serving stars to clear the way for Philippe Clement building a squad in his image.
Between Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe, Rangers let go of almost 750 combined Ibrox appearances.
It symbolises a seismic shift away from the Gerrard-era squad and serves as a big statement of intent regarding what is coming this summer.
But as Rangers continue to plug away in the transfer market, two of those names are now set to sign new deals elsewhere.
With medicals imminent and announcements expected before the return of pre-season training, one Gers duo are wasting no time in moving on after mixed spells at Ibrox.
Ex-Rangers duo set for Trabzonspor medicals
According to a report in Turkish publication Isci Haber, both Borna Barisic and John Lundstram will be undergoing medical exams this weekend.
Both players are expected to join Turkish side Trabzonspor with Borna’s transfer in particular seemingly signed and sealed months ago even if it has not yet been delivered.
The situation with John Lundstram – who Philippe Clement had initially ‘expected’ to tie down at Rangers – has been a little less clear.
Now, it appears the two former Rangers teammates are officially closing in on moves to Turkey.
The report claims that the two players are due in the country today (23/06) ahead of joining up with Trabzonspor’s pre-season training camp this week.
That’s only 22 days on from when the club officially announced the departure of both players.
This will finally settle the post-Rangers futures of Borna and Lunny with reports aplenty surrounding the double transfer but as of yet nothing official.
For the time being there has been no update on Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack or Jon McLaughlin following their release from Ibrox.
Rangers pair set for Türkiye challenge
Whilst Borna Barisic will be remembered for his service, Rangers failed to cash in at the ex-NK Osijek captain’s peak and ultimately paid the price.
A downturn in form, issues with confidence, and consistent injury niggles interrupted the final few years of his Rangers stint with fan confidence plummeting in the last few months.
Like Barisic, John Lundstram was also a loyal and committed servant to Rangers over his three years at the club.
But with the club often overly reliant on the midfielder, and Lundstram himself often disastrously inconsistent, the midfielder’s time looked to be up heading into last season’s final furlong.
There were some huge moments for Lunny at Rangers – as there were for Borna Barisic too – but ultimately both players failed to do enough on Scottish Premiership duties to merit new contracts.
Especially on the sorts of wages on offer in Türkiye.
But whilst the harshness of life at Rangers takes its toll, Turkey can be an unforgiving environment and both players can forget about a holiday in the sun in the former Ottoman Empire.
Fairly recompensed for making the move out to Trabzon we’re sure, we’ve seen plenty struggle with the challenges of Turkish football over the years.
Whilst everyone at Rangers will give both Barisic and Lundstram their best as all parties prepare to move on, the stint will be no cake walk for either player.
Maybe it’ll lead both to reflect on their levels during the last two seasons at Rangers and what might’ve been had they better held their nerve when it mattered most.
