Rangers and Celtic have been heavily linked with a move for Charlton Athletic midfielder Joe Aribo.
And it looks like the Gers have won the race to sign the 22-year-old and the transfer is expected to be wrapped up by the end of this week.
Both the Old Firm clubs have reportedly been keeping tabs on the midfielder for a couple of months now but he had been warned not to join a Scottish club by Charlton’s head of recruitment Steve Gallen.
“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,” Gallen said.
“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.”
Now though it looks like Joe Aribo is on his way to Ibrox and Gerrard has beaten the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton.
Reports have suggested that Charlton have offered Joe Aribo a new deal at the club for the upcoming season but it seems like the midfielder is not keen to stay in England any longer.
Playing under Gerrard, the youngster will surely receive a significant amount of game time but some experts believe that joining Celtic would have been a more sensible decision from the youngster.
But some people are wondering why Joe Aribo chose to ditch a move to Celtic – a club which has picked up all the silverware and join Rangers instead.
Well, the answer is really simple.
As per reports, Rangers are paying Joe Aribo £20k-a-week in the form of wages for the upcoming season which if it holds true will make the midfielder one of the highest earning players at the club.
UPDATE:
The latest reports are suggesting that Celtic have not yet given up hope in the signing of Joe Aribo and it looks like the Bhoys have made a late bid for the midfielder.
Football Insider reports, “The Scottish treble winners have contacted the representatives of the 22-year-old in the last 48 hours as they look to beat their bitter rivals to his signature.”
If this rumour does hold true then surely it will be a huge blow for the Gers and their plans for the upcoming season. But in order for Celtic to wrap up the transfer, they need to make the Ibrox outfit in every step.
And as per reports, the Gers are ready to pay Joe Aribo £20k-a-week as wages and this is something that might still give the advantage to Steven Gerrard’s side.
