Leeds United competing with Rangers for service of current Ibrox player | OneFootball

Leeds United are interested in signing Rangers left-back Borna Barisic in the January transfer window.

That's according to a report from Football Scotland, who say that the Scottish giants are keen to keep the 31-year-old, and have offered him a new contract.

Barisic a long-serving figure at Rangers

It is now five-and-a-half years since Barisic joined Rangers, with the full-back having made the move to Glasgow back in the summer of 2018, when he joined from Osijek in his native Croatia.

The Gers reportedly paid £2.2million for his services, and Barisic has since gone onto make 224 appearances in all competitions for the club.

During that time, the Croatia international has won a Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and Scottish League Cup title while playing for Rangers.

However, his contract at Ibrox is set to expire at the end of this season, something that appears to have attracted plenty of attention from elsewhere, with the January transfer window now open.

Leeds among clubs chasing Barisic

According to this latest update from Football Scotland, Leeds are now among the clubs who are keen to sign Barisic, and want to bring him to Elland Road in the current market.

That is despite the fact that, with his contract set to expire at the end of this season, clubs from abroad, such as Daniel Farke's side, could now secure a pre-contract agreement to sign him for free in the summer.

It is also thought that clubs from La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1 are taking an interest in a move for Barisic.

For their part, however, Rangers are said to want to keep Barisic at Ibrox, and are therefore reported to be planning to offer the 31-year-old a new contract.

That update comes amid separate reports from TeamTalk, that have claimed a number of Championship clubs are taking an interest in Barisic this month, with interest apparently also emerging from European sides such as Roma, Galatsaray and Dinamo Zagreb.

Leeds pushing for Premier League return

It has been a positive first season back in the Championship so far for Leeds United, following relegation last year.

Daniel Farke's side sit fourth in the second-tier table, seven points adrift of second-placed Ipswich, meaning they are well in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

That, of course, could be important in their pursuit of Barisic, given that top-flight interest from elsewhere.

Leeds are next in action on Saturday afternoon, when they make the trip to the Welsh capital to face Cardiff City.

Barisic could be a useful signing for Leeds

It does feel as though this could be a smart bit of business for Leeds to do, if they can pull it off.

With Stuart Dallas a long-term injury absentee, and Junior Firpo having never fully settled at Elland Road, the Whites have been lacking a solid left-back option for some time now.

Barisic would have the potential to provide them with that, considering the fact he has played at a high level for some time now with the likes of Rangers.

His contract situation could make him an affordable target as well, meaning this does look like a deal that could be well worth pursuing for Leeds United.