Reading Assistant manager and former Rangers player believes Aribo will succeed in the Premier League
Alex Rae believes Joe Aribo has already shown some Premier League qualities which made him the most outstanding player in Scotland
Former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae has backed Joe Aribo to succeed in the English Premier League if he completes a move to any of the clubs interested in signing him.
Rae believes that the Super Eagles midfielder's skill set, playing style and physical attributes already mirror what is needed to shine in arguably the most difficult football league in the world.
Aribo has been linked to various Premier League clubs this summer, with newcomers Nottingham Forest also joining Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Fulham on the list of clubs chasing the 25-year-old.
In an interview with Sunday Post as reported by Press Reader, Rae stated that Aribo was easily the standout player in the first half of the 2021/22 Scottish Premiership and thus, he can handle a step up to the Premier League.
Rae, who played in midfield for both Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, argued that Aribo's performances in the Europa League and with the Nigerian national team point to the fact that he is up to the task.
Rae said: "I think Joe could walk into the Premier League all day long. I think in the opening half of last season, Aribo was the outstanding player in Scotland by a distance.
"When you look at the way he plays, at his European performances, and what he does for his country at international level, that is the conclusion you come to."
Now assistant manager at Reading, Rae believes that Aribo has the technical capabilities and the experience to perform in the Premier League.
“He is very good technically, is experienced, and I have no doubt he would be able to cope with the physical demands of the game there," Rae explained.
“His form dipped a bit at the turn of the year after he went to the African Nations, but it picked up again towards the end of the season.”
Nottingham Forest are said to be very interested in signing Aribo, shortly after signing another Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi for a club-record fee of £17m.
Steven Gerrard is also keen on reuniting with Aribo, having signed him for Rangers initially for just £300,000 from Charlton
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