Joe Aribo reminded Rangers fans of his importance this week, playing a key role in dragging us back into the game against Dundee United as well as having a hand in a couple of the goals in our stunning win over Borussia Dortmund.
He is an integral part of our attack either in midfield or his now customary advanced position under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and it is little wonder that Ross Wilson is trying to get him signed up to an extended contract.
The Nigerian international’s current deal expires next summer and the terms he is on are unlikely to reflect his true value to the club, as one of the first names on the team sheet he should be paid accordingly.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Peter O’Rourke reckons that Aribo is calling the shots in any negotiations now and that failing to get an extension could see his time at Rangers come to an end:
“Rangers would love to tie him down to a new contract. But the longer his contract drags on without him signing, it puts the player in pole position.
“Rangers might have to be forced to sell him if that’s what continues to happen.”
O’Rourke is right, it’s ok if it happens once every few years where a player sees their contract out because that is modern football, it’s just an aspect of the game now, however, a player of Aribo’s quality will attract offers coming up to the last year of his deal and we would be losing out on an awful lot of money for a player approaching their peak years.
If he doesn’t sign a new deal our sporting director needs to prove, as he did with Nathan Patterson, that he can get the sort of fee that sees us turn a profit and have money left over to invest in the squad – fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that though.