It is ‘likely’ that a bid for Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo will arrive at Ibrox and that a bidding war could ensue between Premier League clubs, according to popular insider The 4th Official.

The Lowdown: Aribo’s contract

After a successful season in the Premiership, the 25-year-old has attracted strong interest from a number of English top-flight sides.

The midfielder’s current deal at Ibrox expires at the end of next season, possibly forcing Rangers into selling the player this summer as a way of avoiding losing him on a free transfer next year.

Aribo has a current Transfermarkt valuation of £9m, so the Glasgow outfit will surely be desperate to yield a decent transfer fee from his possible departure.

The Latest: Bidding war?

According to The 4th Official, the insiders who first broke news of Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s move to Ibrox back in November, it seems likely that Crystal Palace will make a move for the Nigeria international, possibly sparking a bidding war for the Rangers gem.

Taking to Twitter, the insider claimed: “I spoke with several people close to action at Crystal Palace & it seems that a bid's likely for Joe Aribo.

“Details inside as possibility of a bidding war for the Rangers midfielder cannot be ruled out with Aston Villa & Nottingham Forest also interested.”

The tweet included a snippet from The 4th Official's Patreon which posed the question as to whether Palace could land him for £8m or the Light Blues would demand closer to £12m.

The Verdict: Big dilemma

When analysing Aribo’s underlying statistics, it makes sense as to why Van Bronckhorst’s side would be so reluctant to let their midfielder leave.

When compared with positional peers across Europe's major leagues and continental tournaments over the past year, the 25-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for aerial duels won, the 97th percentile for expected assists and the 95th percentile for interceptions and clearances (via FBRef).

However, having entered the last 12 months of his contract at Ibrox, there is a big risk that Aribo could leave the club on a free transfer next summer.

Therefore, depending on the offers received in the coming months, the Light Blues may have a significant dilemma to ponder.