Calvin Bassey closing in on Rangers exit as Aston Villa move for defender – Times
Aston Villa are set to step up their pursuit of Rangers defender Calvin Bassey with Steven Gerrard making him a priority signing, according to The Times.
The Nigeria international joined Rangers two years ago while Gerrard was manager at Ibrox, but broke into the first-team properly this season and was a stand-out performer in defence.
Now after a stunning performance in the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals, Villa are said to be ‘closing in’ on a deal for the 22-year-old defender with the club’s billionaire owners ready to back the manager to get his player.
Bassey has established himself as a key man for Giovanni van Bronckhorst this season, playing in both central defence and at left-back and making 46 appearances in all competitions.
Gerrard brought him in after he was released by Leicester City from their academy, and now he wants to be reunited as he looks to bolster his defence for the upcoming campaign.
Record sale or nothing
Bassey showed this season that he has the potential to be an absolutely stand-out defender for Rangers and is capable of playing at the very highest level.
Interest in him is not a surprise in the slightest, but in a period where the club are having to make big decisions on the future of some key players it’s not what they need.
Several players are out of contract over the next 12 months, but Bassey isn’t and the ability he has shown means he can be relied upon by Van Bronckhorst.
So unless Villa are willing to offer a club-record amount, which would mean £20m plus after Nathan Patterson’s sale in January, then it’s not worth even coming to the table.
For that amount it would need to be considered, simply because of what we could do wit the cash, but fingers crossed he stays put and can be a big part of the club’s future.
In other Rangers news, Key Rangers trio set for major contract developments ‘over coming days’ – report