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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Fraser Wilson

Borna Barisic has blown his Rangers chance and Steven Gerrard has 13 days to address the transfer issue

Steven Gerrard redoubled his efforts in the summer transfer window as he went about strengthening Rangers ahead of a do-or-die season at Ibrox.

Two quality players for every position was his desire. And he's almost been as good as his word. Almost.

While Gerrard has options across the park there is still one glaring discrepancy in that plan. And it's hardly a new problem.

On the face of it Gerrard might have three options for left-back. But so far Borna Barisic , Jon Flanagan and Andy Halliday have all failed to nail the position down.

Forget two options, the Rangers boss doesn't even know his first choice left-back and it's a problem supporters are hoping doesn't come back to bite.

With less than two weeks remaining of the transfer window Gerrard could still move to solve his headache on the left of defence.

But to do so he would more than likely need to sell one of the aforementioned three players. Barisic, a £2million signing from Osijek last summer, would be the most likely candidate.

Gerrard has Flanagan as one of his three options at left-back (Rangers FC)

The Croatia international hasn't featured since struggling in the league opener against Kilmarnock three weeks ago and didn't even play against East Fife when 10 changes were made to the side for the Betfred Cup clash at the weekend.

Discussing the problem area on the latest Record Rangers Podcast , Gavin Berry reckons Barisic has blown his last chance at Rangers.

Record Sport 's Gavin, who joins the Sunday Mail 's Scott McDermott and Record Sport Online 's Fraser Wilson on the pod, believes Gerrard now has to address the problem in the closing stages of the transfer window especially with a colossal Old Firm derby clash with Celtic looming.

He says: "He has obviously given him (Barisic) that run out at Kilmarnock and it looks as if that was his chance. Opening league game of the season, there's your opportunity, go and take it.

" Steven Gerrard was saying after the game, 'I have three fit left-backs', but Barisic really is the one who should be playing there and if he isn't up to it then I think Rangers need to be looking for another one.

"That position is a worry because once the tests get a bit stiffer, and as much as it was a consolation goal against Midjtylland when Jon Flanagan was at fault, it’s a problem area. Also, Andy Halliday didn't have his best of games at East Fife.

"Over the summer we said Barisic wasn't in the same category as Eros Grezda and maybe Gerrard had seen something that made him think he was worth another chance.

"But if that chance was Kilmarnock and that was it and he really believes now he isn't up to it then he has to go and address it."

The trio also discuss how Gerrard could reshuffle his squad in a bid to bring back Ryan Kent.

They have a look at whether the on-loan kids can make an impact on their return to Ibrox.

And the panel predict the chances of Rangers making it past Legia Warsaw and back into the group stage of the Europa League.

Listen to the latest podcast in the player above.

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