Michael Beale has warned Rangers the time might be ripe to cash in on Calvin Bassey. The Ibrox defender enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last year as Gio van Bronckhorst’s team reached the Europa League final before lifting the Scottish Cup.
His powerhouse performances have now led to Gers slapping a £25million price tag on the head of a player recruited from Leicester's academy for just £200,000 two years ago. Former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard is rumoured to be weighing up a move, with a number of Premier League and Bundesliga outfits also monitoring the situation.
But with two years remaining on the Nigeria international’s deal, Gerrard’s former Ibrox No.2 Beale has warned Rangers they might not get a better chance to realise Bassey’s true worth if they opt to hang on the 22-year-old beyond this summer. It’s a scenario the club is already facing with key assets Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent now all into the final 12 months of their current agreements and their valuations on the wane.
Gers are believed to be confident they can still attract top dollar for Aribo after it emerged Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have all expressed an interest. But Beale admits his old club is unlikely to be able to command the same kind of cash they might have received had they opted to sell the former Charlton ace last year.
The new QPR boss said: “I think the key thing for Ross Wilson and the staff there is to have the conveyor belt in place. I think the cross-border thing really helped in terms of taking a player like [Calvin Bassey] for just over £200,000. The same with Joe Aribo.
“Having the conveyor belt in place is really important. That conveyor belt can come through your own academy, like a Nathan
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