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Jackie McNamara believes Rangers can steal a march on signing Joe Aribo due to the stability in place at Ibrox, as reported by website Football Insider.
What’s he said?
The Guardian reported last week that both Glasgow sides were interested in making a move for Aribo, who has impressed for English League One side Charlton this season.
With the player’s contract up this summer he looks set to try and make his name at a higher level and big clubs like Rangers or Celtic would surely be tempting destinations for the 22-year-old.
McNamara, who earned 33 Scotland caps in his playing days, reckons the Gers are better placed to land the player than their rivals, due the fact Celtic still do not know who their manager will be heading into the summer.
As quoted by Football Insider, the former Scotland international said:
I saw him the other night in the match (League One play-off semi), he looks strong and quick and looks a good prospect. The big thing for Rangers is they can do certain things while Celtic need to wait till after next week.
It depends on what the lad’s promised. Just now, if he’s getting offered a contract at Rangers it’s different because the manager’s in place.
If Neil’s the manager at Celtic it’ll be him speaking to him, trying to get him, or a new manager comes in, so it depends on how quickly everything gets done but again, I think this time next week – I’m not saying everything will be done and dusted in terms of having a manager in place – but we’ll certainly be a lot closer to doing it.
What else can Rangers offer?
The path to first-team action is also a bit clearer for Aribo if he decided to make a switch to Ibrox. That’s not to say Rangers don’t have talented midfielders, but players like Callum McGregor and Scott Brown are part of the furniture at Celtic Park and are often undroppable.
Aribo would have the chance to arrive at Ibrox and get more first-team action, potentially providing the link between midfield and attack that Steven Gerrard has been crying out for all season.
Right now the ceiling is higher at Celtic due to their UEFA Champions League participation, but the Gers probably offer the best opportunity to make a name for himself north of the border.