Rangers could miss out on up to £4m as Joe Aribo is targeted by Serie A side Hellas Verona following Southampton’s Premier League relegation.
It comes amid claims in Sky Sports that Verona are genuinely interested in offering Joe Aribo a reprieve following a disappointing year in England.
The report suggests that the Italians want to take Aribo on a season-long loan deal with an option-to-buy should a move to Italy go better than his stint on the south coast.
The Nigerian international, 27, moved to Southampton last summer on a reported £6m rising to £10m deal as he entered the final year of his Rangers contract.
Interestingly, whilst the specific structure of the Rangers deal is unknown, should Joe Aribo leave Southampton for Verona permanently there would be a knock-on effect.
Rangers would then be unlikely to receive the full £10m for the former Charlton Athletic midfielder in a blow to all parties involved in the initial transfer to Southampton.
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Rangers could miss out in Joe Aribo Verona deal
After an initially bright start Joe Aribo wasn’t fancied at St Mary’s following the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl and he’s struggled to break back into the team since.
Now managed by Russell Martin following their Premier League relegation, Aribo has played only eight minutes of Championship football and an exit could be in the offing.
Rangers held off several clubs south of the border to sign Joe Aribo in the summer of 2019 and the talented midfielder had some huge moments in Light Blue.
From the mazy run v Braga to a stunning volley v Livingston, to all the flicks, tricks and moments of skill which defined his spell there were no shortage of magic moments at Rangers.
Topping it all off with Rangers’ goal in the Europa League Final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville, Our Joe remains highly-thought of by everyone at Ibrox.
But now Rangers could be set to miss out on a substantial transfer boost with Hellas Verona negotiating a loan switch to save Joe Aribo from a frustrating stint at Southampton.