Aston Villa look to sign Super Eagle Calvin Bassey from Rangers at the end of the season

ENGLISH Premier League side Aston Villa are planning to snatch Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey from Glasgow Rangers in the summer as part of a major rebuilding programme.

Bassey, 22, who joined from Leicester City, has been a revelation this season, impressing for Rangers both at left-back and centre-half. His good form has earned him his first Nigeria caps and the Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard knows him well after bringing him to Ibrox in 2020.

Aston Villa are planning a summer revamp under Gerrard, who joined the club from Rangers in November last year and the leftback position is an area the Birmingham outfit have identified for strengthening. Bassey is one of Aston Villa’s targets, as is Bologna and Scotland full-back Aaron Hickey.

Bassey still has two years to run on his contract at Rangers and would command a sizeable transfer fee given his current form, potential and versatility in the backline. Hickey, the former Hearts starlet, for his part, won his first caps for Scotland earlier this year and is being watched by a number of clubs in England and on the continent.