Aston Villa want Calvin Bassey and Rangers legend Arthur Numan is not surprised to see the defender emerge as a big-money target for a Premier League giant, speaking to 5Stars.
In the space of just a few months, the Europa League finalists could bring in a combined £40 million via the sale of two fresh-faced youngsters who started the 2021/22 campaign sat on Steven Gerrard’s bench.
Rangers sold Nathan Patterson to Everton in January. Now, after a remarkable end to his breakthrough campaign at Ibrox, Bassey looks set to follow in his footsteps.
The Times claim that Aston Villa are closing in on a £25 million deal that will see the left-back-turned-centre-half reunite with Gerrard south of the border.
“When you reach a European Final and three of your players – James Tavernier, Ryan Kent and Calvin Bassey – get in the Europa League Team of the Season, clubs from the wealthier leagues take notice,” says former Netherlands international Numan.
“Calvin appears to be the name on everyone’s lips at the moment and he has earned it.
“His displays in the two cup finals (against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hearts) were almost flawless. He looks as though he has it all in his locker.
“Whether he plays at left-back or left of a back three, he is powerful, aggressive, good in the tackle and has incredible strength. He delivers inviting cross balls and it must be a dream for the strikers to have him in that role.”
Aston Villa want Calvin Bassey from Rangers
There are two ways of looking at Bassey’s impending move to Villa Park.
On one hand, Rangers are about to lose one of their most in-form players, a 22-year-old who has gone from strength to strength under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. His transformation from supposed weak link into a colossus of a centre-half has been nothing short of remarkable.
On the other, it must be pointed out that Rangers will make a £24.7 million profit on a player they signed for a nominal fee less than two years back.
Bassey will become the most expensive export in the club’s history, and an unprecedented cash windfall gives Van Bronckhorst the funds to rebuild a side coming to the end of an era.
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“Calvin has two years left to run on his contract and I’m sure Giovanni will want to keep him. But that can’t stop clubs from England or abroad bidding for him,” Numan adds.
“The starting price has been suggested at around the £20million mark and I can’t disagree with that valuation.”
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