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HNK Gorica are preparing for life without Marijan Cabraja with a replacement lined up for the Rangers-linked defender, as reported by 24Sata.

The sample size may be small but the Glasgow giants have a fine track record when it comes to signing talented left-sided widemen from Croatian football.

With ten assists in 26 games this season, Borna Barisic has blossomed into one of the most influential attacking full-backs in British football since joining Rangers from Osijek in 2018.

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Steven Gerrard’s side now hope to repeat the trick with 23-year-old Cabraja.

We know this for a fact too because, helpfully, the man himself has admitted the rumours are “true”.

“It is true that Rangers are following me. Contact has been established but it all depends on how the situation with Borna Barisic develops,” Cabraja said, as reported by the Daily Record, while suggesting he could replace his much-coveted compatriot at Ibrox.

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Cabraja believes his price tag may be a little too rich for Rangers but, if Barisic departs for a fee in excess of £20 million, the runaway Premiership leaders will have plenty of pennies to play with.

24Sata, meanwhile, suggests an as yet unnamed left-back from the MLS has been lined up as Cabraja’s successor, with the Croatia U21 international expected to depart for a major European league sooner rather than later.

The report adds Cabraja has turned down an offer from a so-called “exotic” destination. Clearly the defender wants to stay in Europe to ensure he remains in Croatia’s plans ahead of Euro 2021.

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