'Rangers might have to...' - Journalist claims Gers could be 'forced to sell' £9m-rated gem

Joe Aribo’s hand gets stronger and stronger as his Rangers contract ticks toward its conclusion, Pete O’Rourke has warned. 

The 25-year-old is now well into the final 18 months of the contract he signed upon his arrival at Ibrox from Charlton Athletic in 2019.

He could be described as one of the first names on the team sheet at Ibrox, having started every single Premiership game bar one either side of his trip to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.

He has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season, with only two team-mates surpassing that tally of goal contributions in the current campaign.

O’Rourke told GiveMeSport that while Rangers are eager to commit Aribo to a new deal, they might be left with no option but to cash in if the uncertainty over his Ibrox future continues.

The journalist revealed: “Rangers would love to tie him down to a new contract. But the longer his contract drags on without him signing, it puts the player in pole position. Rangers might have to be forced to sell him if that’s what continues to happen.”

Rangers need to think sensibly here from a business point of view.

The £9m-rated Aribo is the third most valuable playing asset on their books according to Transfermarkt estimations, behind Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.

If the Nigerian doesn’t show a particular enthusiasm about signing a new contract, and one of his admirers (like Crystal Palace) were to come in with a substantial offer this summer, then perhaps it would be wise to accept.

After all, if they reach next January in the same position, then Aribo will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs and potentially walk away for free. That would be an even less