Southampton open talks with Rangers over £10m deal for Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo

Southampton are in talks with Rangers over a deal for midfielder Joe Aribo.

MailOnline reported on Tuesday that Southampton were hoping to fend off competition from the likes of Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest and Fulham to land the 25-year-old.

And optimism is growing that frontrunners Southampton will get their man with discussions progressing.

Joe Aribo has attracted interest from Premier League sides with Southampton leading the race

Aribo, who moved to Ibrox from Charlton in 2019, has a £10m release clause in his Rangers contract.

With Aribo having just a year left of that deal Southampton would hope to negotiate a slightly lower initial fee, though Rangers are thought to want the total value of any deal to reach the clause figure.

Aribo is a man in demand after an excellent season in which he was one of Rangers’ most used players, making 57 appearances, scoring nine times – including in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt – and set up 10 more.

The 25-year-old midfielder has only one year remaining on his current Ibrox contract 

Ralph Hassenhuttl has already made three signings so far this window

A versatile player, Aribo played in central midfield, attacking midfield, down the right and ended the season playing up front due to injuries elsewhere in Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s squad.

Ralph Hassenhuttl has already made three signings so far this window. 

The Saints are also close to finalising a £14million deal for Manchester City starlet Romeo Lavia, with the player due to undergo a medical.