Rangers boss Steven Gerrard: Deal for Charlton’s Joe Aribo is a statement of intent

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has spoken about the imminent arrival of Joe Aribo – and reckons capturing the Charlton Athletic midfielder is a statement of intent.

The 23-year-old is set to sign for the SPL outfit after agreeing a four-year contract.

Gerrard told the Daily Record: “In other people’s minds this might be a statement of intent from us.

“There were a lot of clubs in for Joe around Europe, in the Premier League and the Championship. There was a lot of interest in him.

“But for me it’s just another top player joining Rangers. This platform is perfect at his stage of development.

“He’s signing for a top club, it will be a big step up, but I think there’s a lot more to come from him.

“We’re confident we can turn him into an even better player. He has a fantastic profile about him, people will see that for themselves.

“He’s mobile and dynamic. He can burst past a player, create and score goals.

“There’s still many areas of his game where he can develop but he’ll give us something we’ve not got in the midfield department.

“That’s the key. We have a good midfield, experience and young ones. But we don’t have this type of midfielder with the characteristics of Joe. I’m really looking forward to working with him.

“He’s a guy who can unlock defences. He’s left footed, which is something we don’t have in midfield. So he’ll give us more balance.

“Joe’s tall, athletic and quick. He’s a box-to-box player and is not afraid to open the door when he gets around the box.

“Last season he got into double figures for goals at Charlton so he’ll help in that department too.

“But it’s important we treat him with a bit of caution as well because he’s still young and there’s a lot to come from him.

“The challenge for us is to get him where we want him as quickly as possible.”