There are subplots aplenty as Rangers prepare to head to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership. The Ibrox side’s stuttering start to the season is in review, with the six point gap at the top of the table at risk of widening further should the club fail to overcome the Dons.
Aberdeen too, having now won eight of their opening nine Scottish Premiership games, are hoping to position themselves as genuine title contenders. But amid the malaise of title talk and the rekindling of an old rivalry, there’s one subplot which is going under the radar and could soon result in both clubs having their day in court.
Connor Barron set to walk Aberdeen gauntlet
Rangers are reported to have repelled interest from the English Championship and Serie A when they acquired Connor Barron from Aberdeen this summer.
More than that, though, the Gers infuriated their Aberdeen rivals by stealing one of the team’s best players when their contract was about to an end.
Connor Barron is the most recent Aberdeen player to leave Pittodrie for Ibrox and join Rangers, following in the footsteps of Ryan Jack and Scott Wright.
For the 22-year-old Scotland midfielder, it has been a long few months since then.
Rangers have given Barron major exposure to the first-team, with the young midfielder replacing the influential John Lundstram in the heart of the Ibrox pitch. It’s a move which hasn’t been without difficulties but over the piece, Barron has impressed Rangers fans with his full-bloodied, energetic and progressive performances from a deep role on the park. Now, the midfielder is set to return to a venomous Pittodrie which will be baying for his blood for the first time since switching Aberdeen for the famous Glasgow Rangers. And whilst the threat of abuse and aggression from the Dons faithful is bad enough, Rangers and Aberdeen might yet wind up in court over the youngster.
Rangers face Dons court case over midfielder
That’s because Rangers and Aberdeen are yet to agree a development fee over the transfer of Connor Barron. Whilst the Gers won the race to sign the midfielder, both clubs are required to agree a development fee over the transfer given Connor spent his formative years at Pittodrie. If the two clubs cannot strike a deal, then the situation will go to tribunal where an independent adjudicator will decide the fee after both sides state their case. It’s a situation which outspoken Aberdeen CEO Alan Burrows insists the Dons are ‘fully prepared’ to see through to completion.
Rangers and Aberdeen are negotiating the problem in the background, so for the time being, the sounds have become strangely quiet.
The Dons turned down Rangers’ six-figure offer of about £525,000, which is also the amount that overseas teams would be required to pay. Aberdeen is probably hoping for seven figures.
In this odd scenario, Rangers and Aberdeen are threatened by the prospect of a tribunal, and Connor Barron is set to face the Pittodrie gauntlet.
But for the midfielder, it’s all about concentrating on his own game. The opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to his old team is undoubtedly enough to motivate him.
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