JUST IN: Aberdeen boss linked with Barnsley vacancy as Rangers defender remains ‘in dark’ over Ibrox future

As the summer transfer window approaches, Rangers manager Philippe Clement is expected to be busy in his first summer at Ibrox. However, the future of veteran defender Leon Balogun remains uncertain.

Balogun, 35, made his first start since January in the Scottish semi-final against Hearts, where he and John Souttar effectively contained top scorer Lawrence Shankland. Balogun has been a valuable player for Rangers in both of his stints at Ibrox, demonstrating his reliability and safety.

However, with his contract expiring in the summer, Balogun is unsure about his future, stating that there have been no talks yet regarding his future at the club.

Balogun, when asked if his performance in the high-stakes semi-final match could be seen as a positive, replied that he hopes so, but the decision rests with the club, which will be made in the following weeks.

He expressed his desire for a more timely notification regarding his future this time around. Balogun is one of several key players whose contracts will expire this summer, including Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, and the midfielder John Lundstram, who is rumored to be linked with Ipswich, all of whom may leave the club for free.

New Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin could lose key man as Barnsley set their sights on Peter Leven

Barnsley, who are on the verge of qualifying for the League One play-offs, have reportedly set their sights on Aberdeen’s interim manager Peter Leven, potentially disrupting the club’s plans before they have even begun.

Barnsley, who are without a win in five games, surprisingly sacked head coach Neil Collins and are now looking to appoint a new manager to turn their season around. The Daily Record reports that Leven is a top candidate for the position due to his impressive performance as interim manager.

Leven, who is contracted to Aberdeen until the end of the season, has received praise for the team’s improvement, particularly during their spirited Scottish Cup semi-final display against Celtic.

Leven is expected to return to his role as a first-team coach when Thelin and his coaching team join Aberdeen from Elfsborg in June. Leven has expressed his desire to become a manager in his own right, and Barnsley could provide him with that opportunity. Leven, who has been an assistant manager at Kilmarnock, Dynamo Brest, and Orenburg, joined Aberdeen in the summer. As interim boss, he has won two, drawn two, and lost three games in all competitions.