Rangers must command at least £15m for prized asset Joe Aribo - Derek Clark

When he does leave Ibrox, whether that be in the upcoming window or beyond, he will likely become the club's biggest ever export by some considerable distance.

The Nigerian has become almost indispensable to the Light Blues given his impressive displays and ability to perform in various positions and since the arrival of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, it appears his game has reached even greater heights.

His importance to Rangers was highlighted on Saturday as van Bronckhorst’s men struggled to break down a resolute and well-drilled Dundee United side as he was sat on the bench due to fears he could pick up a yellow card and miss the Old Firm game on January 2nd.

As Rangers toiled, the sight of him being called back from his warm-up and into the dugout to be readied for action lifted what had become an anxious and frustrated Ibrox crowd.

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He didn’t do anything overly spectacular like the audacious and quite simply ridiculous control from the sky we witnessed against St Johnstone last week but his mere presence on the pitch was enough to generate a sense of excitement and anticipation that something positive could happen.

Since pitching up in Govan two-and-a-half years ago from Charlton, Aribo has grown and developed as a footballer year on year.

If we take a look at his StatsBomb radar for the previous two Premiership campaigns including this term, we truly get a sense of just how good the 23-year-old is.

As we can see, he outperforms the league average by quite some distance when it comes to xG, xG Buildup and assisted xG which illustrates just how dangerous he is in the final third.

What is interesting is his PAdj interceptions dial and we can see he’s significantly improved his numbers in this area this season.

What does this mean?

Well, as we know van Bronckhorst has used Aribo in the No.6 role which indicates he’s doing a lot more defensive work for the team.

Now as much as it’s great to see he’s maturing as a player in a defensive sense, it’s his ability going forward that will attract potential suitors.

Interestingly, James Tavernier was quizzed on Aribo recently ahead of the St. Johnstone game in which he said of his teammate:

“He’s an unbelievable player.

“He’s got all the attributes to be a top top player and hopefully I can see that one day – him playing in the big leagues – because he’s got all the ability and he’s adding numbers to his game now.”

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When we talk about numbers we’re examining goals and assists and since arriving from Valley Parade, Aribo’s been on an upward trajectory.

As we can see in his shot maps below, he underperformed in terms of his xG in front of goal in his first season in the Scottish Premiership however this improved during the invincible campaign and this term we can see he’s already netted six times in the league which is just one shy of his total haul last season.

On this form, he’ll reach double figures in terms of goals which, for a midfielder, is vital when it comes to competing for a title.

Now, the big question will be, can Rangers keep hold of their talisman for the rest of the season?

We simply don't know but numerous clubs are keeping tabs on Aribo and it would be a surprise if a bid isn’t made for the midfielder before the January 31st deadline.

The fact of the matter is Rangers have a supreme talent on their books, a player who would walk into a number of teams in the Premier League - it really is a case of enjoying him while you can.

When it comes to his value, given the going rate for players of his ilk down south and the potential for even more improvement, Rangers should be seeking nothing shy of £15m to £20m.

That is the conservative estimate, this is a player who has the ability to reach the very top of his profession. Players like that generally command eye-watering fees and Aribo has all the attributes to do just that.

Of course, tying him down on a longer-term deal makes financial sense as his contract runs out in the summer of 2023, just 18 months from now. Rangers won't want to endure another Connor Goldson situation where they could risk losing a star performer for nothing.

Whether Aribo wishes to remain at Ibrox longer than four years is another thing, the consensus amongst the Rangers support and even his teammates is that he's a guy who is probably destined for bigger and better things.

Given the prize at stake at the end of the campaign in the shape of a likely automatic place in the Champions League groups next term, keeping hold of Aribo in January would be a huge boon. However, money talks and Rangers have always made it clear that player trading is one of the core pillars of their strategy going forward. If an offer comes in that meets the club's valuation, it will be considered even if it might be for someone difficult to replace. After all, high-end transfer interest is only likely to come for the top players.

It seems likely the board will have a big decision to make given the level of interest in this ever-improving star.