Viera seeks to bring Aribo to Crystal Palace in the summer and create all-Nigerian midfield

CRYSTAL Palace manager Patrick Viera is keen on signing Super Eagles midfielder Joes Aribo in the summer as a replacement for Chelsea's on-loan Conor Gallagher who is certain to return to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

Currently playing for Glasgow Rangers ion the Scottish Premiership, Aribo has been sensational for both club and country of late, making him a highly sought-after player. Several English Premier League clubs have been after his signature but Viera, the former midfield general himself us keen to have him at Selhurst Park.

Viera is likely to lose Gallagher, his Chelsea import this summer when his loan expires in the summer, leaving Palace in dire need of a replacement. Viera is said to be planning a £10m bid for Aribo, who has been has been brilliant for Rangers this season and is in contention for player of the season in the Scottish Premiership.

Aribo, 25, has put in performances that have been vital to Rangers quest to retain their league title, scoring six goals and providing four assists in 22 league games for Rangers this season. Palace are, however, likely to face competition from Leicester City and Aston Villa, who are managed by Aribo’s former manager at Rangers, Steven Gerrard.

At the start of the 2019/20 season, Aribo joined Rangers on a free transfer from Charlton and still has one-and-a-half-year left on his contract at Ibrox. Aribo is a versatile player who can play centrally or in a wide midfield role and is able to use his long legs to shield the ball from opponents effectively.

Of Aribo joins Palace, he will hook up with the likes of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise, giving the club an all-Nigerian midfield. Nigerian Football Federation officials are still trying to get Ebere and Olise to agree to switches to enable then feature for the Super Eagles.