EXCLUSIVE: Rangers open Barisic contract talks to fend off Premier League interest
Fraser Fletcher
- 14 Sep 2023 03:25 CDT
- 3 min read
Exclusive
Rangers have opened contract talks with Croatia international left-back Borna Barisic in a bid to get the 30-year-old to commit his long-term future to the Ibrox club, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.
Barisic has started the season in impressive form for Michael Beale’s side but is out of contract in the summer of 2024, at which point he could depart the club as a free agent.
With clubs around Europe circling, Rangers are eager to avoid this eventuality and have already made an offer to the former Osijek player, who has been at Ibrox since 2018 and continues to enjoy life in Glasgow.
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Indeed, early conversations took place between the Gers and Barisic at the beginning of the summer transfer window but are now underway in earnest.
FootballTransfers understands that contract talks are set to continue, with the Croat set to be offered at most a new two-year agreement.
Nottingham Forest are among the clubs following the progress of the defender while a clutch of other teams from around Europe are also tracking these contract negotiations with interest.
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Barisic’s strong start for struggling Rangers
Barisic has been one of Rangers’ most solid performers in what has been a difficult start to the season that has left the club four points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and relegated to the Europa League after Champions League elimination by PSV.
This has left the position of manager Beale under pressure, and as FootballTransfers revealed exclusively, the Englishman could well be sacked should Rangers fail to record an emphatic victory over St Johnstone in Saturday’s league clash in Perth.
Barisic has made seven appearances for Rangers this season and already has four assists to his credit. He was sorely missed from the 1-0 Old Firm loss to Celtic before the international break, with his absence caused by an injury sustained in the 5-1 loss to PSV – a collapse that arrived after he had left the field.
In total, he has featured 208 times for the Gers, scoring nine goals.
