Aribo undisturbed despite Premier League links

The former Charlton midfielder has been the subject of numerous transfer rumours, but his former gaffer has revealed that he is undisturbed 

Aribo’s former manager Mark Fabian has stated that the 25-year-old remains undisturbed despite reports linking him with a move to the Premier League.

Aribo has been pretty outstanding since his move to the Ibrox in 2019. But this season, he has taken it a notch higher this season especially after new manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst took over at the helms of affairs in mid-November.

Due to his performances, he has attracted interest from the Premier League, with Southampton, Leicester City and Aston Villa all linked with him.

However, despite the links, Mark Fabian, who coached Aribo in his early years at English lower league side Staines town, believes that Aribo is unperturbed.

“I’m not surprised there is huge interest in him,” Fabian told the Daily Record. “I always thought he’d end up in the Premier League one day.

“But speaking to him not long ago, I know he’s really happy at Rangers.”

“The speculation about his future doesn’t bother him, and he admits himself he doesn’t give it a second thought while it’s just talk.”

“He just loves what he’s doing at Rangers.

“Joe is such a nice quiet boy. He’s not one of those lads who goes chasing the bright lights or the big nights out.”

“I’ve got no doubt he’s not an ounce of trouble for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He just loves keeping his head down and playing his football – he’s a manager’s dream.

“Joe’s the same kid now as the one I knew when he was coming through the youth academy eight years ago.”

Fabian also believes that if Aribo stays till the end of the season, he could attract England’s top sides.

Fabian says that if the Nigeria international puts up a good show in the Europa League and also goes on to win the Scottish Premiership, he would get better suitors.

“You look at what’s happening with Rangers. If they win the league again this year, they go straight into the Champions League. That’s huge.

“What a story that would be – a lad going from non-league to the Champions League. It would be fantastic.

“We knew he was a huge talent when he came through at Staines Town.:

“Listen, the National League South wasn’t the Dog and Duck, and there are some decent players at that level.”

“But you still don’t see many lads going from that kind of level all the way up to the Champions League.”

Aribo’s contract expires at the end of next season, but Rangers will try their best to tie the former Charlton Athletic midfielder down with an extension.