Rangers might need to cough up for James Tavernier replacement likened to Brazilian legend
11/13/2024 06:05 AM
Rangers have a keen eye on Wrexham wing-back Ryan Barnett after the English League One star's explosive start to the season.
But the Gers might have to cough up for the 25-year-old right-winger if Wrexham exercise a contract option on Barnett's current deal.
Ryan Barnett has started the season on excellent form with Wrexham as they look to secure a third promotion on the bounce with the side currently sitting third in English League One.
Rangers would also face stiff competition for Barnett with a number of clubs in the English Championship monitoring the attacking wing-back's situation.
Rangers cast glances at Ryan Barnett
Rangers News can exclusively reveal that Rangers have been keeping tabs on Ryan Barnett as they actively assess transfer options heading into January and the summer.
The Wrexham star has been a crucial part of the Welsh outfit's form this season but as things stand the wing-back's current club are yet to exercise that new contract option.
Barnett can play in any position on the right-hand side of the park and even earned comparisons to Brazilian legend Cafu amongst Wrexham fans for his recent performances.
Ryan Barnett also made headlines this weekend when he rattled home the only goal of the game to defeat Mansfield 1-0 on League One duties.
The right wing-back chopped inside then out before rifling a low shot past the Mansfield goalkeeper and securing all three points.
There has been widely reported interest from Stoke City and Preston North End in the player but the links to Rangers are the most high-profile to date.
James Tavernier alternative 'loving life' at Wrexham
Rangers links to Ryan Barnett also come at an interesting time in the right-back position at Ibrox with the long-term future of captain James Tavernier up in the air.
Rangers have handed a new contract to long-term right-back option Dujon Sterling but would be expected to replace Tavernier should the 33-year-old move on from Ibrox.
Barnett ticks a lot of boxes as a long-term replacement with the wing-back narrowly missing out on October's Player of the Month to Peterborough's Kwame Poku despite laying on five assists for his teammates.
Opening his account for the season with the effort against Mansfield, these are the sorts of performances and numbers which were once the forte of the Rangers captain.
But it's clear Barnett could take some convincing with Ryan Reynolds backed Wrexham marching up the divisions and having their sights set on the Premier League.
With that in mind, Barnett has been discussing his situation in Wales and admits that he is 'loving life' with the ambitious US celebrity backed club.
“I’m loving it," Barnet told BBC Sport. "The manager gives me that freedom when I go forward and gives me that confidence to take people on.
“All the lads have got that belief in me as well.
“I think that’s all you can ask for in football, you want to be confident and you want to be happy and I am in a really good spot at the moment.”
Asked about his stunning goal at the weekend, Barnett said: “They tried to stop me going down the line.
“But as you saw for the goal, I tried to cut in and I just had a feeling when it left my foot that it was going in.”
