‘Completion stage’: The president feels the deal to sign two Rangers players is almost done.
By the time Philippe Clement takes Rangers out for the first time in 2024/24, the Scottish Premiership giants may have said goodbye to nearly the whole spine of their title-winning team under Steven Gerrard. Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Filip Helander, and Scott Arfield Glen Kamara and Allan McGregor left last year, and Joe Aribo and Steven Davis have already left Ibrox.
This summer, talk about James Tavernier and Connor Goldson has grown, with sources indicating that Gerrard wishes to reunite with his former Rangers teammates in Saudi Arabia. Ryan Jack’s contract is also about to expire, and talks about extending it have died down. And then there’s Borna Barisic and John Lundstram. A duo who might share a locker room again next season, but not in Glasgow.
Two long-serving Rangers stars could depart for Turkey. Barisic, one of Clement’s longest-serving members six years after joining from NK Osijek for £2 million, lost his spot in the Scottish Sun after Christmas, while Rangers continue to search for a younger model. In contrast, Lundstram continues to play an essential role in Clement’s objectives. However, he is said to be in negotiations with Trabzonspor about joining Barisic in Turkey for the Super Lig.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan stated a few days ago that activity on a number of prospective arrivals was forthcoming. Speaking again, one week later, Dogan claims that the Black Sea club has achieved the ‘completion stage’ with three transfer targets.
“Three transactions are completed. “One more transfer is coming to an end,” Dogan informs A Spor. “We already had three transfers that have recently reached the completion stage.” According to Haber61, Dogan’s ‘three transfers’ are Barisic, Lundstram, and Denis Dragus, a Standard Liege striker who has impressed on loan at Gazientep this season. Meanwhile, Clermont Foot ace Muhammed Cham is reportedly ‘coming to an end’.
Barisic and Lundstram are out of contract. “We started planning the new season long ago,” the president says. “We’re hoping to have a transfer window without making any blunders with acquisitions. There will be young and talented names. There will also be names who are highly experienced and will give value to the squad.
“But we do not have the luxury of making mistakes this year.” Barisic and Lundstram, both in their thirties, are considered ‘really experienced’. Yilmaz appears to have secured the left-back position for the long future. However, replacing Lundstram may prove more challenging. Rangers are interested in Eduard Spertsyan, according to HITC, although Krasnodar are anticipated to ask for a club record cost of roughly £13 million for the silky Armenian international.
