Charlton Athletic Head of Recruitment Steve Gallen has urged Joe Aribo not to join Rangers or Celtic this summer in arguably the least surprising comments of the summer.
Charlton stand to make little compensation if Aribo moves up north, with Scottish clubs paying considerably less than their English counterparts.
As a result, Gallen has warned the talented midfielder off moving to Ibrox or Parkhead. But he would say that.
“We really hope he doesn’t go. But if Joe does decide to go then we’d really like him to go English, for a couple of reasons.
“One, because that is the best place for him to go to – the best place to develop his career.
“And two, because if he did go to a club in England then our club would get recompensed.
“We would get a fair valuation of his worth. If he goes cross-border then the club won’t.”
There’s no issue with the Charlton man saying this, but it’s perhaps in the other order.
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Whilst clubs in England might turn their nose up at Ibrox or Parkhead, they offer a lot more than most.
Firstly, the crowds, intensity and scale of the clubs can only be matched by a handful in England, if that. And secondly, both clubs routinely play in Europe.
Rangers are also managed by the best English midfielder of a generation.
Steven Gerrard can have a more lasting impact on Joe Aribo than most. And any move to prospective Rangers isn’t forever.
Staying in England right now may well be a good move for Aribo. But it’s outlandish to call it the “best”. It’s the “best” move for Charlton.
