MARCUS GAYLE, the former Rangers striker, has urged Charlton midfielder Joe Aribo to take his game to the next level by moving to Ibrox to work alongside boss Steven Gerrard.
Aribo has been attracting interest from a number of clubs south of the border in recent weeks and Rangers are looking to beat Celtic to the signature of the sought-after Englishman.
The Light Blues have already completed deals for Jordan Jones and Jake Hastie, who will move from Kilmarnock and Motherwell respectively, ahead of the new campaign.
Steven Davis has agreed a one-year deal after returning to Ibrox in January, while a move for Greg Stewart will be confirmed once his Birmingham City contract expires this month.
Gerrard is also keen to complete moves for Oldham defender George Edmundson and Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo as he looks to bolster his squad for another shot at the Premiership title next season.
A deal for Aribo is progressing ahead of Rangers’ return to training in a fortnight but Aston Villa, Southampton and Eintracht Frankfurt have all been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old after an eye-catching campaign that saw him score ten goals to help Lee Bowyer’s side clinch a return to the Championship.
Former Staines Town boss Gayle helped Aribo get his move to The Valley four years ago and is now keen to see him head to Ibrox.
He said: “It is a big decision for him and I have been in communication with him. He was asking about my time at Rangers and what it was like. I didn’t play too many games there but I loved every minute of it.
“I loved the lifestyle, I loved the goldfish bowl in a city with fans that are committed and passionate and they support you 100 per cent. I said it would be a great place to go and develop at 22-years-old.
“He has got that opportunity and if he does decide to go up there, he will learn and push on more. The pull of Steven Gerrard would be massive as well and who better for him to learn from as a midfielder?
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“He was one of the best players of the modern generation so that would be a real draw for him.
“There was no indication of how the talks went, but I could sense it was very positive and he liked what he saw and what he heard. I take that as a good sign.
“He was asking me about my experience off the field and I said I loved it. I didn’t want to come back down south to be perfectly honest, but I didn’t have any choice and I had to come back down south.
“I wouldn’t dissuade him from moving to Rangers at all. I think it would be an excellent place to ply his trade and learn. He is only 22, when I went up there I was 30.
“He has got a lot of years ahead of him and if Rangers do sign him they have got a very good player. He is left-footed, very skilful, can score goals and assist goals and he will take the game by the scruff of the neck. Both parties would be very happy with what they have got if a deal is done.”
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