Alan Hutton thinks that Rangers would accept an offer of ‘around £12million’ for midfielder Joe Aribo.
The lowdown
The Nigeria international, who joined Rangers from Charlton Athletic in 2019, is into the final 18 months of his contract at Ibrox.
Football Insider reported last year that Crystal Palace were ‘keeping tabs’ on the situation, while it has also been claimed that Brentford and Watford, both promoted from the Championship last season, are interested in the 25-year-old.
Journalist Chris Jack has warned that Rangers may not be able to compete with the wages that top-flight English clubs can offer to the midfielder.
The latest
Hutton pointed out that, if Rangers were to net an eight-figure sum for Aribo, it would represent a huge profit and could be best for all concerned, even if the Nigerian would be a loss at Ibrox.
The BBC Radio 5 Live pundit told Football Insider: “Rangers signed him for £300,000 so to get around £12million would be good business.
“He’s done superb work at the club and he’s elevated them to the next level – and his game has gone to the next level as a result. He’s burst on to the European and international scene during his time at the club.
“Every player at the club will have a value. If they can get around £10-12million for Aribo, they’ll be happy to take it and reinvest that into the squad.
“They’re in a good place right now. Obviously, I don’t want him to go, but that’s football. He wants to play at a higher level and his contract is running down – it could be best for both parties.”
The verdict
A £12m fee would make Aribo’s sale the second most lucrative in Rangers’ history. Nathan Patterson, who joined Everton for £12.6m in January, currently holds the record for the club’s most expensive outgoing.
On the basis that the right-back had only made 27 appearances for Rangers before his switch to Merseyside, you could make the case that Aribo, who has played 127 times for the club and contributed 44 goals and assists, should command a higher figure.
Indeed, he shone for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, with sports journalist Josh Bunting calling him a ‘beautiful footballer’ after an ‘absolutely outstanding’ group stage display against eventual runners-up Egypt.
However, according to Pete O’Rourke, his contract situation puts the Gers under ‘pressure’ to cash in while they still can. Unfortunately, their negotiating position isn’t the strongest, so fetching £12m for Aribo could be a tall order.
In other news, Chris Jack reveals the latest on this Gers player’s contract situation
