Rangers are close to signing Manchester City winger Brandon Barker, according to reports in the UK. The 22-year-old is expected to sign on a permanent basis with a deal set to be finalised by the end of the week.
The Englishman has spent the last four seasons out on loan at the likes of NAC Breda, Rotherham, Hibernian and Preston but he has made just one senior appearance for City. Fans on Twitter are not convinced that that the club need another winger:
he's no a ryan kent?
— sam (@samueELJacckson) 8 August 2019
He’s fast that’s it. Shocking signing.
— Davie Boy (@QBLOYAL) 8 August 2019
Why the hell do we need another wide player? Dose this mean as end for Jamie Murphy?
— Allan Thomson (@allan_822) 8 August 2019
Kent not going to happen then.
— DNCJ (@struthseeker72) 8 August 2019
Awful signing.
— Lyndon Bowes??????? (@Lyndon11) 8 August 2019
Good bit of business if it's on a free he is rapid
— Stevie T13 (@stevie_t13) 8 August 2019
FFS trust our manager, he's a winner and it's winners he'll sign, if not their gone.
— jamie (@jamiesmith1957) 8 August 2019
Hibs flop
— Arran Foster (@ArranFoster123) 8 August 2019
He was actually class for Hibs. Imagine what he’ll be like with decent players around him. Great signing.
— Scott (@slrrfc) 8 August 2019
Mind Kent's career wasn't on fire till he arrived under Stevie. This guy may be the same ? Young and fast exactly same as this time last year for Kent
— Paul Haldane (@phaldane36) 8 August 2019
Barker generally plays on the left-wing and will provide competition for both Jordan Jones and Jamie Murphy. The deal will mean that Rangers would have given up any hope of signing Liverpool’s Ryan Kent.
Barker’s time at Hibernian during the 2017/18 season was unremarkable, scoring just twice and providing five assists in 30 appearances. His spell at Preston last campaign was even less impressive, starting just nine games for the English Championship club, and scoring two goals.