David Moyes can find his ideal Arthur Masuaku replacement in Rangers full-back Borna Barisic amid reports West Ham United are considering a mid-season deal.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Irons are monitoring the Gers’ star left-back ahead of the January transfer window after losing Masuaku for the foreseeable future following knee surgery.

The Hammers believe there is a need for top-quality fresh legs in the position following Masuaku’s operation, while introducing competition for Aaron Cresswell after the three-cap England international’s struggles in recent games.

Barisic has emerged as the latest in a line of left-backs to be linked with a mid-season move to the London Stadium, with West Ham also said to be interested in FC Barcelona’s Junior Firpo and Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Rangers chiefs expect Barisic to be a target for several sides in the upcoming window with his contract entering its final 18-months, but they will still demand upwards of £8m after snubbing approaches from Leeds United in the summer.

Forget Cresswell, sign Barisic

Barisic has been in sublime form under Steven Gerrard as Rangers look to claim the Scottish Premiership title this season, with the Liverpool icon lauding the 28-year-old for his consistency which ensured interest was inevitably high in the summer.

“We’re not surprised if there is any interest in Borna,” Gerrard said, via quotes by the Glasgow Times. “Of course, we’re not because he has been a consistent performer for us for some time now and has started the season so brightly again.

“But he has signed a long-term deal here, everyone loves him, the fans like him and he was in the running for Player of the Year. If someone did come, they would have to bring an awful lot of money with them.”

Rangers are rightfully loath to part ways with Barisic, who has provided an astonishing 10 assists and two goals in 26 appearances across all competitions thus far this season, despite failing to create or find the back of the net since September in the Premiership.

His output has remained high nonetheless, with Barisic averaging 2.7 accurate crosses and providing 2.2 key balls a game in the Scottish top-flight, along with 0.7 shots, while winning possession with 1.1 interceptions, 0.8 successful tackles and 1.0 clearances, per SofaScore.

It would not take long for Barisic to warm the hearts of Moyes and West Ham supporters were he to move to east London in January and hit the ground running with the same impact.

AND in other news, West Ham are monitoring a £20k-p/w talent to resolve David Moyes’ “big” blow.