The Texas Rangers celebrate after Game 7 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the Houston Astros Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Houston. The Rangers won 11-4 to win the series 4-3. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Borna Barisic is set to depart from Rangers, with signs indicating an impending exit from Ibrox under Philippe Clement.
During the live coverage of the 2-0 Scottish Cup victory over Ayr United on February 10th, the Viaplay Sports pundit asserted that the Croatian defender’s tenure is winding down due to his expiring contract, further noting that Ridvan Yilmaz has now surpassed him in the pecking order.
Craigan remarked at halftime (6:35 pm), “It appears increasingly likely that Borna Barisic is on his way out, doesn’t it? With his contract expiring and Yilmaz featuring prominently since Philippe Clement took over, it seems the end is near for him. Nonetheless, when given the opportunity to play, there’s still an obligation to deliver on the pitch. Barisic has been a dependable player with his exceptional left foot, but questions arise about his future prospects.”
Throughout the January transfer window, it was Ridvan Yilmaz who seemed poised for an imminent departure. He was heavily linked with a move to Hellas Verona, followed by interest from Galatasaray for several weeks, although they failed to meet Rangers’ asking price.
Despite the speculation, the 22-year-old remained at Ibrox when the transfer window closed, coinciding with his impressive performances since joining from Besiktas two summers ago. It now appears that Yilmaz has displaced Barisic as the first-choice left-back.
While it’s evident that Rangers wouldn’t have allowed Barisic, the more experienced player, to enter the final six months of his contract if they were keen on retaining him beyond the summer, they might consider a short-term extension depending on developments in the next transfer window.
