Rangers-linked Ross Barkley is available on a free transfer after his contract at Chelsea was terminated by mutual consent.
Ange Postecoglou and his Celtic side were suggested as a possible destination earlier in the summer transfer window for the England international but Giovanni van Bronckhorst has now been credited with an interest according to reports.
The Sun's Alan Nixon claims the Light Blues want to snap up the experienced midfielder - who has turned out for the likes of Everton and Aston Villa - as they look to boost their ranks ahead of their assault on the Champions League. The Ibrox side will come up against Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli in their section and kick-off the campaign away in Amsterdam next week. Playmaker Barkley, capped 33 times by England, is now available on a free following his Chelsea exit with plenty of clubs no doubt ready to throw their hat in the ring for his services. The 28-year-old is on the search for regular first team football and that could be offered by Rangers on top of playing at the top level of club football.
The Ibrox side have plenty of attacking options in that role with Tom Lawrence, Malik Tillman, Ianis Hagi and Alex Lowry. Although the latter two are currently injured.
A Chelsea club statement read: "Ross Barkley has left Chelsea by mutual consent and becomes a free agent.
"The midfielder, who joined from boyhood club Everton in January 2018, made 100 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring 12 goals. The most memorable was his injury-time equaliser against Manchester United in his first full season at the Bridge.
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"At the end of that campaign he helped us win the Europa League, scoring a spot-kick in the shoot-out victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the semis and then coming off the bench in the brilliant Baku triumph against Arsenal.
"Barkley played a part in our run to the 2020 FA Cup final, scoring against both Liverpool and Leicester. He was brought on for the closing stages of the defeat to Arsenal, as he was in the Wembley showpiece this year, converting a penalty in the shoot-out loss to Liverpool. He did get a winner’s medal in that competition in 2018.
"Barkley’s final game was against Watford in May, and it was his late header that secured all three points in our last game of the season.
"We would like to thank Ross for his contribution to Chelsea and wish him well for the rest of his career."
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