Alex McLeish: ‘It will be difficult for Rangers to keep Aribo’

Alex McLeish has admitted that Rangers face a very big fight to keep Joe Aribo should Crystal Palace launch a move this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers boss insisted the lure of the Premier League is “astronomical” thanks to the riches and quality on offer.

As revealed by Football Insider (17 April), Palace are stepping up their interest in Aribo, 25, after launching multiple scouting missions.

A recruitment source told this site the Eagles sent scouts to watch the midfielder in last week Thursday’s win over Braga in a Europa League quarter-final game at Ibrox.

Football Insider first revealed Palace’s interest last October while there are other Premier League clubs circling.

McLeish insisted all the Rangers players would “crave” a move to the Premier League.

McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “People find it strange when you say you’re going from Scotland to England.

“They are going to the richest league in the world, but he’s not going to a bigger team than Rangers.

“Rangers are, for me, one of the biggest teams in the world. There’s no way they can’t make money with the organisation that they have worldwide.

“But the lure of the Premier League for players is just astronomical because it’s not only the best league in the world, it’s the richest.” Aribo’s contract runs until the summer of 2023.

Aribo has scored 25 goals and bagged 25 assists in 141 games since he joined Rangers from Charlton Athletic in July 2019.