Rangers have been linked with signing free agent Tom Lawrence in recent weeks and the forward could be the ideal man to replace Joe Aribo at Ibrox.

The attacking midfielder is currently without a club after leaving Derby County upon the expiry of his contract at the Rams, with his excellent performances last season not quite enough to prevent the Midlands club from dropping into League One.

Rangers are one side said to be interested in signing the 28-year-old after his impressive 2021/22 campaign, and if he does join Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side, it would be in a deal reminiscent to the one that saw Aribo arrive in 2019.

The Nigeria international also joined after seeing his contract with a lower league side expire, although Rangers were forced to pay £300,000 on that occasion due to his age.

The midfielders had also been the starring light in his side's season, with his performances helping Charlton to promotion via the playoffs, with his ten goals and five assists attracting the interest of the Gers.

He has been a mainstay at Ibrox in the three years since and is now on the brink of a move back to England, with Southampton set to sign him in a deal worth around £10m, so van Bronckhorst will need a replacement.

Last season saw Lawrence manage 11 goals and five assists in the Championship for Derby, primarily featuring in an attacking midfield role, so he clearly performed very similarly to Aribo before his move to Ibrox.

Although he is three years older than the Nigerian, his experience in the Championship suggests that he could be an excellent addition by Ross Wilson this summer, especially if he can maintain his form from last season when playing for the Gers.

The Welshman has previously been described as a "fabulous talent" and shares a lot of similarities with Aribo, with WhoScored suggesting that both Aribo and Lawrence's strengths include passing and dribbling, while both like to perform layoffs.

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Therefore, considering the fact that he is available on a free transfer, would be signing from an English club and is an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, the similarities with the Aribo deal are clear to see, and Wilson should definitely look at bringing him in on a bargain deal.

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