A claim has been made on Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, regarding a potential contract extension at Ibrox...

What's the talk?

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has suggested that the ex-Charlton man is not eager to put pen to paper on fresh terms with the Glasgow giants.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Rangers might have a big decision on their hands in the summer because he’s only got 18 months left on his current deal and it seems he’s in no rush to sign a new deal.”

Gutted

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst could be set for his biggest disaster yet with this update as it points towards an Ibrox exit for Aribo in the not-too-distance future. If he is unwilling to sign a new contract then it could leave the Gers in a place where they need to cash in on him instead of allowing him to leave for nothing.

Transfermarkt value Aribo at £9m and, if that is an accurate estimation of his worth, Rangers could miss out on a hefty payday if they do not sell him in one of the next two windows. If they do not cash in and he continues to avoid fresh terms then he could sign a pre-contract deal with a club outside of Scotland in 12 months and they would get nothing in return for his services.

In both of these scenarios, however, is the worrying prospect of losing Aribo from the squad. Fans will be gutted at the thought of him leaving the club as he has been in stunning form for the Gers since the start of last season in the Premiership.

Last season, the Nigeria international scored seven times and provided four assists in 31 league outings. He averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.13 as he showed that he can perform consistently to a high level in the division.

Aribo has upped his game this term, with an average SofaScore rating of 7.20 in 20 Premiership matches. The midfielder has already racked up six goals and three assists, providing quality end product from an advanced midfield role under Steven Gerrard and van Bronckhorst.

This is why Rangers fans will be dejected by the news and why it would be a disaster for the club to lose him, whether it comes now or in one of the next two transfer windows. Ross Wilson must work his socks off with van Bronckhorst to convince him to put pen to paper on a new deal to ensure he remains in Glasgow in the long term.

AND in other news, GVB makes January enquiry to sign £2.1m "conductor", Rangers fans surely buzzing...