A claim has been dropped regarding a potential transfer for Rangers attacking midfielder Joe Aribo...

What's the talk?

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has made a worrying statement on the midfielder's prospects of arriving at Aston Villa, who are managed by former Gers boss Steven Gerrard and have reportedly targeted the 25-year-old as a potential signing.

He told GIVEMESPORT: "I'm sure Gerrard would love to bring someone like a Joe Aribo to Villa Park. He was a big signing for Gerrard up at Rangers and really helped to turn them around.

"He added a real creative spark to the side at Rangers and I think he's been Rangers' best player this season up in Scotland. He has hit a real rich vein of form."

Fans would be gutted

Rangers fans will surely be gutted by this news for multiple reasons. Firstly, they will be frustrated with the idea of genuine interest coming in for Aribo this month.

Nathan Patterson has already left the club to join Premier League side Everton, and losing the Nigeria international would be another blow to the squad. Giovanni van Bronckhorst would be losing a talented and valuable player midway through the campaign, which could affect the second half of the season and their attempts to win silverware domestically and in Europe.

Secondly, they will be gutted as Gerrard's connection with Aribo could play a key role in any potential deal. He was the manager who brought the player to Ibrox and helped him to flourish at Ibrox.

His former Charlton teammate Ezri Konsa previously mentioned how the ex-Liverpool captain helped the 25-year-old, saying: “Having Gerrard as his manager at Rangers, that has made him go up another level.

“Joe’s style is unique. When I was with him at Charlton he did remind me for a while of a left-footed Yaya Toure. But you don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around.

“Like Toure, for a tall guy he’s got such great feet. But that languid style he’s got is actually fairly unique in the game."

Therefore, the prospect of going back to England to reunite with Gerrard could be a tempting one for Aribo, which is why Rangers fans will likely be gutted with O'Rourke's claim.

The Nigerian has been in sublime form in the Premiership for the Gers this season and his exit would be a big loss for the side. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.20 and contributed with six goals and three assists, highlighting how much quality they would lose with his exit.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst heading for first Rangers disaster as big £5m update drops, it'll infuriate the fans...