As one perceptive Southampton supporter points out, this is not the first time The Saints have been linked with Joe Aribo.
Goal reported back in 2019, a few weeks before he joined Rangers in a bargain £300,000 deal, that then-Charlton Athletic starlet had his fair share of admirers in the Premier League.
At St Mary’s, in particular.
So, with Aribo playing the best football of his career north of the border at Ibrox, it should really come as no surprise to learn that Southampton have been watching his progress closely.
The Nigeria international has already been linked with Crystal Palace, Brentford and Watford ahead of the January transfer window.
And according to the Daily Record, a representative working on behalf of Southampton was in the stands as Giovanni van Bronckhorst maintained his 100 league record in charge of Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
Could Southampton finally sign a long-term target?
As luck would have it, Aribo was restricted to a mere 26 minute cameo during Southampton’s scouting mission.
Ahead of a hectic festive fixture schedule, Van Bronckhorst opted to rest his most in-form player against a Dundee United side ravaged by COVID-19 absences.
That stroke of misfortune won’t deter Southampton, however.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have been watching Aribo from afar for some time now.
And a string of magisterial, Man of the Match performances – not to mention a couple of eye-catching goals – could pave the way for Aribo to follow in the footsteps of fellow Old Firm exports Stuart Armstrong, Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama.
Will Joe Aribo leave Rangers for the Premier League?
“He’s the type that everyone would love in their changing room. And he’s a great player,” former Charlton team-mate and now-Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa told The Mail recently.
“Joe’s style is unique. When I was with him at Charlton he did remind me for a while of a left-footed Yaya Toure.
“You don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around. Like Toure, for a tall guy he’s got such great feet. But that languid style he’s got is actually fairly unique in the game.”
According to AllNigeriaSoccer, Aribo has turned down the chance to extend a contract with just 18 months left to run.
Van Bronckhorst will be praying, with a title on the line, that Aribo doesn’t ‘do a Gerrard’ and walk away from the closest Premiership battle in a decade.
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