---
title: "Rangers: Two Premier League sides want Aribo signed before AFCON"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-two-premier-league-sides-want-aribo-signed-before-afcon/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Rangers News"
published: "2021-12-28T11:10:45Z"
modified: "2021-12-28T11:10:45Z"
---

# Rangers: Two Premier League sides want Aribo signed before AFCON

**Aston Villa and Leicester City have approached Rangers over midfielder Joe Aribo, according to [Fichajes.net](https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/clubes-premier-league-siguen-joe-ariboaston-villa-leicester-city-20211226.html), with the clubs hoping to complete a deal before he plays another game at Ibrox.**

### The lowdown

25-year-old Aribo is in the [final 18 months](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-aribo/profil/spieler/468198) of his [£14,000-per-week contract](https://salarysport.com/football/scottish-premiership/rangers/) at Ibrox.

The midfield maestro, who can also play on the right, joined Rangers on a [free transfer](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-aribo/profil/spieler/468198) from Charlton Athletic in 2019 and has gone to make [123 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-aribo/leistungsdaten/spieler/468198) for the club.

He’s now valued at £5.85million by Transfermarkt, a figure that’s [soared since the summer of 2020](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-aribo/marktwertverlauf/spieler/468198).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”383632″\]

### The latest

The [report](https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/clubes-premier-league-siguen-joe-ariboaston-villa-leicester-city-20211226.html) claims Steven Gerrard has ‘expressly requested’ the signing of Aribo as he looks to reunite with the player in the Midlands.

Leicester are at a ‘disadvantage’, but their midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is a ‘great friend’ of Aribo and will try and convince his countryman to pick The Foxes.

Both clubs have ‘already contacted’ Rangers but if they’re to do a deal in January, it’ll most likely have to be before Aribo ‘concentrates’ on the Africa Cup of Nations.

UK-based players are [expected](https://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/nigeria-s-afcon-2021-squad-confirmed-eguavoen-names-napoli-s/blt6917f21115e66cd4) to link up with the Nigeria squad on Monday, January 3, meaning Aribo has played his last game for the Light Blues if one of the buyers get their wish.

### The verdict

Could Aribo have played his last game for Rangers? Well, if Villa and Leicester are wary of losing out to each other, they may well try to fast-track the deal in the next week.

While they would be furnished with the funds to replace him, losing Aribo would undoubtedly be a big blow to Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

He’s started 19 out of a possible 20 Premiership matches and ranks as their second-highest performer according to [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/306/Show/Scotland-Rangers) metrics, behind only James Tavernier.

Aribo, who’s scored six goals and provided three assists in the SPFL, has been hailed as a [‘gem’](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1470014230422245384) and the [‘best player in the league’](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1470015844038201344) by sports journalist Josh Bunting, so the club must ensure they bank a huge profit if they opt to cash in.

**In other news, [Rangers have been linked with this Spanish sensation](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-transfer-rumours/rangers-transfer-latest-pablo-torre/).**