Joey Barton could profit if Rangers land reported target Josip Vukovic

Follow us on Google Discover

Rangers are reportedly interested in signing Maritimo midfielder Vukovic.

Rangers are reportedly interested in signing Croatian midfielder Josip Vukovic from Portuguese side Maritimo – and that could help Joey Barton in his potential pursuit of an Ibrox outcast.

Portuguese outlet A Bola claim Rangers are eyeing a move for 26-year-old Vukovic, who is renowned as a tough-tackling holding midfielder. He only just joined Maritimo in the summer, and has impressed in the top tier of Portuguese football.

It has caught Rangers attention, and they could now look to bring the midfielder to Ibrox despite already boasting a number of central midfielders – especially after the January signings of Glen Kamara and Steven Davis.

Davis and Kamara join a long list of midfield talent at Ibrox, including Ryan Jack, Lassana Coulibaly, Ross McCrorie, Scott Arfield, Graham Dorrans and Andy Halliday. The club also have plenty out on loan.

Greg Docherty is at Shrewsbury Town, Jamie Barjonas is at Raith Rovers, Jordan Rossiter is at Bury and Carlos Pena has been released. But one that has gone under the radar is Jason Holt, who is currently with Barton’s Fleetwood.

Holt, 25, is first choice under Barton at Fleetwood, missing just four league games all season. Indeed, he has turned out for Fleetwood at the base of their midfield 30 times in all competitions this season.

He has been in excellent form, helping to break up opposition attacks and keep the ball ticking with an intricate array of passes in the holding-midfield role. Barton may look to sign Holt permanently, with him having little chance of breaking into Rangers side.

Of the midfield talent Rangers boast, McCrorie, Jack and Halliday can play in the holding role and adding Vukovic into that category will only make Holt even more surplus to requirements.

If Barton wants to sign Holt permanently in the summer, then, the likelihood is that a move to Ibrox for Vukovic will improve Barton’s chances of signing Holt.