Aston Villa: Gerrard could make 'shock decision' with £25m star at Villa Park

Aston Villa replacing Lucas Digne with Calvin Bassey this summer would be a “shock”, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Rangers defender is currently being linked with a move to Villa Park, but O’Rourke thinks he is being lined up as an option to play at centre-back rather than left-back.

Towards the end of May, Sky Sports claimed that Villa are one of many Premier League clubs who are interested in signing Bassey in the upcoming transfer window.

According to them, the young Nigerian would cost over £25m, with Rangers seemingly looking for a record fee in Scottish football.

The largest sale is currently Kieran Tierney’s departure from Celtic after Arsenal paid £25m to secure his services back in 2019.

Having been such an important player for them in the 2021/22 season, making 50 appearances in all competitions, Rangers will feel he is worth the price tag that they have slapped on his head.

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If Bassey does arrive at Villa Park this summer, O’Rourke does not think the 22-year-old will be coming in to replace Digne.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: “I think Lucas Digne is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League on his day, and they did spend big money on him in the January transfer window, so it would be a shock if they were already looking at maybe a potential replacement for him.

“So maybe centre-back rather than left-back Calvin Bassey is being targeted for.”

It is possible. As O’Rourke touched on, Bassey could easily arrive as a centre-back option.

He played there 24 times for Rangers in the recently-concluded campaign, while there has also been a lot of talk about Steven Gerrard not being convinced by