No big club came in for Aribo in January transfer window after reveal by Rangers manager

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has suggested that no big club made a bid for Joe Aribo in the recently concluded transfer window.

The former Charlton Athletic man has been linked with a return to England in recent months with the likes of Brentford, Watford and Crystal Palace all credited with an interest.

Aribo has entered the last eighteen months of his contract with Rangers and they may be forced to sell him as from the summer if he does not put pen to paper on a new deal.

Van Bronckhorst was delighted one of his key players stayed put at Rangers amid speculation linking him with an exit.

Asked how important that he kept the likes of Joe Aribo, Ryan Kent and Borna Barisic in the squad after the close of the window, the Dutchman told reporters : "It's also important because you don’t want to lose players who are valuable to the squad and are very important players, starters so I'm happy a big club didn't come in for them.

"In that aspect I'm quite happy we kept them and also happy at the players we brought in".

Aribo was one of the Super Eagles players that left Cameroon with their reputation intact despite the national team's early exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 25-year-old has managed 23 goals and 21 assists in 124 matches as a Rangers player since his arrival at Ibrox Stadium in July 2019.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel