Calvin Bassey, look what you’ve done. After an excellent finish to the season including starring roles in the Europa League and Scottish Cup Finals, he is a man in demand.
Given the quality that he has shown in recent times, there is no surprise that he is very much in the spotlight.
How good was Calvin Bassey in the #UELfinal?!
He has a huge future ahead… pic.twitter.com/bBqDjRiroE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 19, 2022
West Ham and Aston Villa are said to be credible names to have expressed an interest in the Nigeria interational with another four clubs supposed to be seriously interested at this stage.
Today, we had a claim from The Times that a move to follow Steven Gerrard to the Midlands was imminent. Talk about jumping the gun.
Sport: Aston Villa closing in on deal for Rangers defender Calvin Basseyhttps://t.co/bcEUQibD9y
— TimesEditorScotland (@magnusllewellin) May 25, 2022
The article carried no details on any agreement, any fee, any quotes or any credible information. As things stand, no-one is closing in on a move for Calvin Bassey. This is all pure conjecture.
The unfortunate reality for Rangers is that if clubs in the big money leagues want him enough, then he will be gone. A significant transfer fee would follow as well as a contract to set the lad up for life. Rangers can’t compete in that regard, that’s just the reality of football nowadays.
So what about the fee? Firstly, it would need to eclipse the reported £12 million deal that took Nathan Patterson to Everton. As much as the Scotland international showed ability and massive potential across his fleeting appearances at Ibrox, this has been upstaged by Bassey’s breakthrough season this term, including fine performances against the likes of Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Braga and Eintracht Frankfurt. The all-action player has been a mainstay domestically too, both at centre-half and on the left flank when called upon.
Charlie Nicholas, with an eye on the game on both sides of the border, believes any deal would surpass £20 million and a new record sale for the club:
“I can see Rangers getting £25 million if they sell Calvin Bassey to fund their summer rebuild.”
“You can see why Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa are so keen to get him but there will be a string of top clubs looking at him.”
“I think the minimum value would be in the £25 million bracket.”
Brace yourself, this is just the start of the Summer speculation. Silly season is now underway.
25m … think £15m with add ons maybe…..25m can’t see it.