Journalist says Rangers fans would take Joe Aribo in a heartbeat as transfer talk revealed

Rangers look set to ramp up their January transfer business.

Danny Rohl is working wonders at Rangers, with his appointment after the disastrous Russell Martin experience looking like a masterstroke from Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers.

Rohl’s men ran out 3-1 winners over Celtic at Parkhead last Saturday, before following that up three days later with Rangers claiming a 2-0 victory against Aberdeen at Ibrox.

As such, Rangers are now just three points behind Hearts and are firmly in the title race, but Rohl knows he will need some extra reinforcements in the transfer market to lift the trophy.

Rangers told of Joe Aribo transfer possibility

Rangers look sure to sign a new central midfielder this winter, with Silas Andersen being heavily linked with a move to Ibrox.

However, Andersen is only 21, and with every midfielder in Rangers’ first-team bar Joe Rothwell being 24 or younger, the addition of a more experienced figure may well be the pragmatic approach.

And, speaking via Daily Record Sport’s Hotline Live show, journalist Scott McDermott believes former Gers star Joe Aribo could be an option that is explored.

Aribo, 29, is currently playing for Southampton in the EFL Championship, but has only made seven appearances in all competitions so far this season.

“I think most fans would take Joe Aribo back in a heartbeat, if I’m honest,” McDermott began.

“There’s been a lot of talk. I’ve not heard anything concrete that that would be a doable deal for them (Rangers). Joe Aribo, obviously, being on big money down at Southampton. He’s obviously not been playing. He’ll be looking to almost get his career back on track.

“Whether he’d be willing to come back to Rangers, who knows? But, in terms of his quality, in terms of looking at Rangers’ midfield, he probably walks into the team.

“His experience and his quality and his know-how in terms of being here before, if they could do some sort of deal for Joe Aribo, I think most of the punters in here (Ibrox) would be absolutely delighted. Whether they can do that or not remains to be seen.”

• Read more: Rangers transfer guarantee revealed as two signings now banked at Ibrox

Joe Aribo’s Rangers career by the numbers

Signed by Rangers on a free transfer in the summer of 2019 from Charlton Athletic, Aribo went on to become one of the Gers’ biggest bargains in recent times.

Over the course of a three-year stay in Glasgow, the versatile central midfielder made 149 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 21 assists in all competitions.

He scored one of Rangers’ most famous goals in his penultimate appearance for the Gers, when he put Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side 1-0 up in the Europa League final, before Rangers ultimately lost the match on penalties.

• Aribo signed for Southampton in July 2022
• He’s played 111 times for Saints, scoring nine goals
• Aribo made 32 Premier League appearances for Southampton in the 2024-25 season

In his final 2021-22 campaign as a Rangers player, Aribo bagged nine goals and nine assists in 57 total appearances, showing just how important and quality a player he was.

Therefore, with him turning 30 this summer but still sure to have a good few years left in his boots, Rangers could do a lot worse than reuniting with their former midfield maestro this month.

Stay up to date this winter with our Rangers transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Ibrox, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.

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