He may be 35-years-old but many Everton fans were sad to see Osman go in the summer.
You’d struggle to find an understatement to rival the claims that Rangers probably expected more from Joey Barton. The self-proclaimed ‘best player in Scotland’ is now training at Burnley, the club he left for Ibrox in the summer, after a four month calamity comprising of six appearances, an Old Firm thrashing, a training ground bust-up and a betting ban.
Barton claimed Rangers were expecting a Liverpudlian Messi. In fact, they were probably hoping for a cultured, technical midfielder whose experience could prove invaluable to a youthful side aiming to make a splash on their top flight return.
In hindsight, a player with Barton’s rap sheet and reputation may not have been the ideal choice. Yet, if Rangers want professionalism and experience in equal measure, who better than a man with 352 more top flight appearances than off-field controversies?
According to the Scottish Sun, Mark Warburton is mulling over the prospect of offering a deal to 35-year-old former Everton stalwart Leon Osman, still without a club after being released in the summer.
A clever, technical player, the veteran schemer appears a perfect fit for Warburton’s passing philosophy and could fulfil the creative void left by the long-term layoff to Niko Kranjcar.
Furthermore, while a deal for Brentford playmaker Jota is still uncertain, and fellow targets Sergi Canos and Conor Hourihane attract interest from elsewhere, twice-capped former England international Osman is both available and affordable.
Above all, however, he is a leader, captaining his beloved Everton on occasions. Rangers are still a relatively youthful side and Osman could bring everything Rangers expected from Barton – leadership, quality and experience albeit without the controversies and the bust-ups.
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