'Premier League clubs could' - Chris Jack drops transfer claim on £21.6m-rated Rangers duo

Rangers simply cannot compete with Premier League clubs when it comes to the wages they can offer, and that could see Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent lured away. 

That’s according to Herald Scotland and Glasgow Times journalist Chris Jack, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

Both players are out of contract in 2023 and rank in Rangers’ top three most valuable playing assets according to Transfermarkt (£9m and £12.6m respectively).

Kent is thought to earn £18,000 per week at Ibrox, with Aribo taking home £14,000 weekly (via Salary Sport).

Aston Villa, who are managed by former Gers boss Steven Gerrard, are reportedly keen on the ex-Liverpool winger, while Crystal Palace are ‘keeping tabs’ on the Nigeria midfielder, along with Brentford and Watford.

Jack thinks that the players’ agents could easily secure twice the amount they are earning at Rangers from a Premier League suitor.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “There’s only so high they can go in terms of wages. Premier League clubs could blow them out of the water in terms of wages, so Rangers could reach their limit on Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent.

“Their agent could go to a Southampton or a Brentford and say double it and it would be no problem at all. They’d just say ‘here’s your money’.”

Let’s put Jack’s claim to the test. Say Brentford were to come in for Aribo – would they really double his salary to £28,000 with a snap of their fingers?

Perhaps not. The Bees’ top earner at present is Pontus Jansson on £25,000 per week, while their top scorer Ivan Toney only earns £21,000 weekly (via Spotrac).

If Rangers win the Premiership, they could net £35m through qualification for the Champions League group stage. That might enable them to hand out some lucrative contract extensions and see