Rangers have roped in Antonio Colak and Tom Lawrence but, at the same time, suffered a massive blow as Southampton-bound Joe Aribo has finally announced his exit on social media. The Light Blues are eyeing a replacement and according to France Football journalist Nabil Djellit, they are rivalling Mainz for Angers midfield ace Angelo Fulgini.
Sur le départ, Angelo Fulgini dispose d’une offre des Rangers. Le milieu de terrain intéresse aussi Mayence. Le club de Bundesliga pourrait plus facilement s’approcher des attentes du SCO. Le club de L1 espère 7 M€ pour racheter la dernière année de contrat du joueur. #Mercato pic.twitter.com/QNzBvDJIuA
— Nabil Djellit (@Nabil_djellit) July 8, 2022
The 25-year-old will not be in the Ligue 1 club’s pre-season camp ahead of a potential summer transfer. Lille are also chasing his signing, but the Gers have been the frontrunners as they had multiple offers rejected by Fulgini’s current employers. The midfielder has entered the final year of his Angers contract and the club have set a valuation of €7m for his admirers.
The former France youth international spent the majority of his academy years with Valenciennes before breaking into their senior side seven years ago. He was then tied down by Angers back in the summer of 2017 and the versatile midfield ace has been a regular ever since.
Why Rangers Should Step Up The Chase
Aribo was a stellar coup by former boss Steven Gerrard who convinced the Nigerian to join the Gers on a Bosman upon the expiration of his Charlton contract. He spent three seasons with the Ibrox side and exhibited his versatility across the pitch till the very end of his eventful stint.
Predominantly a central midfielder, the Super Eagles international delivered exquisitely as a ‘number 10’, wide attacker as well as a ‘False 9’ during the injury absence of Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos. He spearheaded their attack both in the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals and the Light Blues would indeed miss his services irrespective of Fulgini’s potential move from Angers to Rangers.
Having said that, the Frenchman holds a lot of traits that resemble Aribo’s style of play. Although he has mostly been deployed in a box-to-box role, the creativity depicted as a right midfielder or midfield attacker highlights his flexibility in the middle of the park. His physicality helped him slot in as a ‘number six’, whereas the adaptability saw him operating as a centre-forward, second striker and even a right fullback on a number of occasions. Fulgini is someone the Europa League runners-up must pursue to showcase their intent in this transfer window.
