Southampton have been told told it will cost them £10million to prise Joe Aribo away from Rangers this summer.
Record Sport revealed back in December that St Mary’s boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has been keeping tabs on the Ibrox talisman, and now the Saints boss is preparing to make his move - with Aribo understood to be keen on a move to the Premier League outfit.
The 25-year-old Nigeria international is one of three key members of Gio van Bronckhorst ’s team with just 12 months remaining on their contracts., but Aribo - a £300,000 bargain buy from Charlton - has already spelled out to the Light Blues’ board he is unlikely to pen new terms. Gers agreed to insert a £10million buy-out clause in his contract when the Londoner moved north to join Steven Gerrard’s squad in 2018, and they are insisting it will take an eight-figure total package for them to consider letting Aribo leave this summer.
While the rest of his Gers team-mates have flown out to Portugal for a pre-season training camp, Aribo has remained behind in the UK as talks gather pace.
Southampton have leapt ahead of a queue of suitors that also includes Fulham and Crystal Palace and are confident their offer of a four-year deal will win over a player who gave Rangers 12 minutes of ecstasy just two months ago when he fired them briefly ahead in their Europa League final clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, before the Germans struck back before claiming the trophy on penalties.
Aribo played a key role for Gerrard’s team as they marched to an undefeated league title last year.
He was in player of the year contention this season before his performances tailed off in the wake of his appearances at the African Cup of Nations.
Even so, he continued to be a major figure for Gerrard’s replacement van Bronckhorst, even featuring in a makeshift role as a striker as the Dutchman’s team embarked on a remarkable run to Seville.
The departure of a player who has scored 26 goals in 149 appearances would be a significant blow just a month before the start of the new campaign and the club’s Champions League qualifiers.
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