GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Sporx in Turkey reports that Borna Barisic’s anticipated Rangers transfer to Trabzonspor has now been postponed.
The outlet stated on their website on March 30 that the delay is due to the Turkish Super Lig’s lowering of its foreign player restriction.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) declared in January that starting in the upcoming season, the number of players registered in squads will be limited from 14 to 12; nevertheless, starting lineup numbers will remain unrestricted [A News, 11 January].
Barisic’s contract will be impacted because Trabzonspor will likely finish the season with 13 foreign players when players who are returning from loan are taken into account, according to Sporx.
However, in an attempt to create way for the new hires, about half of that number are now expected to depart due to an intensive recruitment push.
Ibrox defender still expected to leave the Rangers?
It is unlikely that the TFF’s plot will completely thwart Barisic’s departure because Trabzonspor won’t have been surprised if it was revealed in January.
If the Turkish Super Lig team had been more forward-thinking in their squad preparation, they would have taken this into consideration while determining whether to make a move for new players before the summer.
Barisic appears to be at the top of their list, so if there is room for anyone, it would probably be him.
Furthermore, there may be a longer delay before the deal is formally announced given hints from other parts of Turkey that it has already been agreed upon.
In any case, it would be shocking if the 31-year-old left-back decided to stay with Rangers after his contract expired in the summer, thus Govan’s end of the matter is unlikely to be affected by the administrative issue.
Barisic began the 3-1 victory over Hibs on March 30 due to Ridvan Yilmaz’s injury, but once the 22-year-old returns to full fitness, he will likely start on the bench against Celtic the following week (7 April).
