The forgotten Calvin Bassey Rangers transfer bargaining chip that could see price tag skyrocket for Aston Villa

Rangers star Calvin Bassey looks to be a player in demand this summer after an impressive campaign at Ibrox.

After catching the eye in the Europa League run to Seville and lifting the Scottish Cup, the 22-year-old is also impressing for Nigeria.

He has picked up the COPA90 breakthrough player of the season award, after earning rave reviews for his national side in the win over Ecuador on Thursday.

Aston Villa appear to be leading a host of English Premier League sides chasing his signature this summer, with Fulham, Wolves and Brentford understood to be monitoring Bassey's progress.

Away from his top performances, an English FA could see Rangers hold out for big money this summer.

Premier League sides are allowed to name no more than 17 overseas players in their 25-man squads, with the eight remaining places available to homegrown players.

A homegrown player means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The FA for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before they turn 21.

Bassey meets the criteria having come through the Leicester City youth system before moving to Ibrox back in 2020.

That could give Rangers an extra bargaining chip as clubs look to meet the guidelines before the new season next term.

Aston Villa started the campaign with 12 homegrown players under Dean Smith before Steven Gerrard 's arrival.

However, Gerrard's January overhaul saw the number drop to nine as he reshaped the players registered with the Premier League following the arrival of the likes of Philippe Coutinho.

Incoming Villa signings Diego Carlos, who has signed from Sevilla and Boubacar Kamara, who has left Marseille this summer, will have to be