Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard are not interested in Joe Aribo – report
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is not looking at a reunion with Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, according to the Express and Star.
Aribo shone under Gerrard during their time at Ibrox together and Villa had been linked with an interest in the midfielder earlier in the summer.
However, the Express and Star claim that Aribo is “not thought to be of interest” to Villa as they continue to search for midfield recruits.
Aribo enjoyed a stellar season at Rangers last season, scoring eight goals and grabbing six assists in 31 league games and scoring in their Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
The report also dismissed links to West Ham star Tomas Soucek and claimed Villa are not looking for another new centre-back after signing Diego Carlos.
If not Aribo, then who?
It is understood that Villa are in the market for a midfielder, but there is little concrete coming out of Villa Park.
Links with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher seem hopeful at best while this report has shot down Aribo and Soucek.
Villa prefer to do their business in private with Sporting Director Johan Lange running an infamously tight ship when it comes to leaks and rumours.
Therefore, it is unlikely anyone will know who Villa’s midfield target is until a signing is actually announced.
Aribo is the sort of profile that Villa should be looking at, with the Nigerian star being surprisingly strong defensively for an attacking player as well as being creative with an eye for goal.
His strengths when it comes to the defensive side of the game would prove useful to Villa, with Aribo making defenders panic and winning the ball high up the pitch.
It will give Villa a bit of aggression in the forward line that they have lacked, but with Villa already having Philippe Coutinho and Emi Buendia for the ‘10’ role, there may not be room for Aribo.
While fans probably won’t know who Villa want in midfield until he is smiling for the cameras and holding up the shirt, it sure would be nice to have an idea who it could be.
In other Aston Villa news, the club could be open to selling Douglas Luiz this summer.