Joe Aribo expected to reject new Rangers contract amid Premier League interest
Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo is likely to reject a new contract at Ibrox, according to All Nigerian Soccer.
The 25-year-old’s current deal in Glasgow runs until 2023 and the Daily Mail reported last week that he was attracting interest from Crystal Palace, Watford and Brentford.
All Nigerian Soccer have revealed that the Bears have opened contract talks with Aribo and are poised to offer him improved terms to encourage him to sign an extension.
However, the report claims that initial discussions “were not productive at all” as the Nigerian international has no intention of staying at the club beyond the end of next season.
Disappointing
This will come as a huge blow to Rangers as Aribo is one of the first names on the team sheet and a key part of their plans going forward.
The midfielder made played a pivotal role in winning the league title in 2020-21 and he has started every game in the Scottish Premiership, Europa League and Scottish League Cup this season, emphasising his importance to the side.
Despite Rangers’s defeat in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Hibernian, pundit Stephen Craigan described as Aribo as “absolutely sensational”.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has deployed Aribo in a more advanced midfield role and it has paid off as he has netted twice and got one assist in the Dutchman’s first three league games in charge.
However, it is unsurprising that a move away is tempting for the Nigerian international as he is originally from London and will want to test himself in the Premier League.
Rangers now have a decision to make on whether they cash in on Aribo – who Barry Ferguson values at more than £10m – or try to keep him around for as long as possible.
In other Rangers news, one Bears man has faced criticism for the way he left his former club.