According to Glas Slavonije, Borna Barišić's return is expected to be the first step in the winter reconstruction. The former club captain has been without a contract since September, after his contract with Turkish club Trabzonspor expired. During this time, he has been at Opus Arena, where the club allowed him to recover from a serious cruciate ligament injury. The 33-year-old Barišić's long recovery is now complete, and he has been training with the first team for some time, which indicates that his return is becoming more likely.

Borna Barišić, a 33-year-old Croatian left-back and former national team player, has been regularly training at Osijek's facility, Opus. It has been suggested that the club should try to persuade the former captain to join, as the homegrown player's character is seen as a potential solution for a team in need of a leader. However, it is acknowledged that Barišić might have his own plans. The defender has been without a club since September 2025 and has 35 caps for Croatia. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is €600k.