Rangers are about to lure midfielder Joe Aribo to Ibrox.
Ex-Rangers defender Russell Martin has told The Sunday Post that he thinks Joe Aribo will be a ‘brilliant’ signing for Steven Gerrard’s side.
The Gers have already secured six signings this summer, with George Edmundson, Steven Davis, Greg Stewart, Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie and Sheyi Ojo, but number seven appears imminent.
Boss Gerrard has been keen to bring in some additional creativity, and whilst Stewart may provide a link between the midfield and attacking, adding real flair is a must.
Rangers have been pursuing Charlton ace Aribo, who hit 10 goals and five assists last season as he fired the Addicks to the Championship via the League One playoffs.
The 22-year-old is out of contract next week, and rather than stay at The Valley, he looks set to pick a move to Ibrox, with the Daily Mail claiming a medical was scheduled over the weekend.
Aribo will cost Rangers just £300,000 in compensation in a bargain move, and Rangers fans are excited about the prospect of the youngster arriving in Glasgow.
Now, ex-Gers loanee Martin has commented on Aribo, having played against him back in November when Charlton beat Martin’s Walsall side 2-0.
Martin feels Aribo is a ‘brilliant’ signing for Rangers, claiming he’s a natural athlete, a box-to-box player with great movement and physical power, and thinks his dynamic style will fit well in Scottish football.
“Aribo will be a brilliant pick up for Rangers,” said Martin. “I played against him last November when I was with Walsall, and Charlton came and beat us 2-0 at our place. He is a young player I really like, a natural athlete and a box-to-box player who makes some terrific runs. He is a decent height and physically powerful. Last season he scored 10 goals from midfield, and I am sure if he went north, he’d make a big impact.”
“Yes, it will be a step up to go from League One to having to go up against Celtic in Old Firm derbies a few times a season. But I am sure he will not just cope in the environment, but thrive in it. We can see by the efforts Charlton were making to persuade him to stay how much they rate him. I think there were also English Premier League scouts going to watch him at various stages of last season. So there are plenty of people who think he can go higher, and, for me, Scotland’s top flight is a perfect fit. I say that because I think he is a dynamic type, who would do well in a league which is quick and very competitive,” he added.
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