Rangers will demand upwards of £8million for Borna Barisic after Leeds United identified him as a top summer target, Football Insider understands.
The left-back, 27, is on the radar of the newly-promoted Premier League club following his outstanding second season in Glasgow.
Ibrox sources have told Football Insider that Barisic is now valued at more than four times the £2m fee required to prise him from NK Osijek in his native Croatia.
Rangers are well placed to secure a major fee for the defender as he signed a new four-year contract at the end of January that ties him to the club until the summer of 2024.
That deal is worth more than £4.5million across the four years, equivalent to over £20,000-a-week.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard does not want to lose Barisic, a defender who took his game to a new level last season.
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His set pieces have made him a hero with the Ibrox faithful and he has emerged as critical to the team’s playing style with his overlaps on the left flank.
Barisic made 39 appearances in 2019-20 and was a key creative source, contributing an impressive 14 assists as well as two goals.
As Football Insider revealed in June, the Ibrox hierarchy anticipated only star striker Alfredo Morelos would generate more interest than Barisic this summer.
The Colombia international is in advanced talks to join Lille for around £17million after Rangers signed two new strikers this week in Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.
This site revealed yesterday that Leeds have now set their sights on Barisic as they look to strengthen at left-back ahead of the new season.
Barry Douglas has struggled to make an impact since his £3m arrival from Wolves two years ago, while Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski are both converted wingers.
In other news, Hutton has been wowed by first glimpse of ‘outstanding’ Rangers talent.
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By: Wayne Veysey
Title: Rangers to demand upwards of £8m as Leeds circle for Barisic
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/revealed-what-it-will-take-for-leeds-to-prise-barisic-from-rangers/
Published Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2020 07:00:31 +0000
