A big Rangers transfer claim has emerged regarding the future of attacking midfielder Joe Aribo...
What's the talk?
Journalist Pete O'Rourke has suggested that the club's hopes of keeping hold of the Nigeria international may rest on whether or not they qualify for Europe's premier competition. The 25-year-old is out of contract in 2023 and has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
The reporter told GIVEMESPORT: “I think a lot will depend on whether they’re in the Champions League next season. Perhaps Joe Aribo will stick around if they’ve got Champions League football to offer.”
Excited
These comments will surely leave Rangers fans feeling excited by what securing a place in the Champions League could do for the club next season. They will immediately qualify for the group stage by winning the Premiership title in the coming months, instead of needing to go through the play-off rounds and potentially dropping into the Europa League, as they did this term.
This means that league success at the end of the current campaign will be a major achievement for the Gers both in terms of being able to lift the Premiership title again and qualifying directly for the Champions League. Not only could it help to lure players from other clubs, it could also allow them to retain their own gems, as O'Rourke has claimed.
The likes of Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Aribo, among others, could be tempted to stay by the prospect of regular minutes in Europe's premier club competition. This may not be something that they are able to get elsewhere, if they were to join a mid-table Premier League club for example, and it could duly convince them to reject a move away from Ibrox.
Whilst it may help to Rangers keep hold of their current players, it could also broaden their horizons in the transfer market. The lure of playing Champions League football could allow them to make signings which otherwise would not be viable, on O'Rourke's premise that it is enticing enough to change key decisions for players like Aribo.
Therefore, Rangers fans could be hugely excited about what Ross Wilson and Gio van Bronckhorst can do in the summer if they are able to clinch the Premiership title and automatic Champions League qualification. However, there is plenty of football left to be played this season and the Gers must firstly oust Celtic to the number one position in the domestic table.
AND in other news, Forget Morelos: £18k-p/w Rangers gem with 10 duels won dominated Westfalenstadion...