Sources: Ajax in advanced talks to sign Calvin Bassey after late-night Rangers development
Ajax are in advanced talks to sign Calvin Bassey after late-night discussions with Rangers, sources have told Football Insider.
The Dutch giants have leaped ahead of Premier League outfit Brighton in the race for the defender, 22, and are hopeful of securing a full agreement within days.
Rangers have indicated they will now accept less than their original £25million asking price for Bassey and a bid of £20m including add-ons is set to seal the deal.
It would mean a record transfer for the Glasgow giants, who have already sold Joe Aribo to Southampton for £6m rising to £10m this summer.
That followed the sale of Nathan Patterson to Everton in January for £12m rising to a potential £15m.
The fee for Bassey could double that of Aribo as Rangers look to take advantage of the auction for his services as well as the fact his current contract has another two years to run.
Bassey, who signed on a four-year deal in 2020 after joining from Leicester City for £300,000, has come to the attention of Ajax for his starring role in Rangers’ remarkable run to last season’s Europa League final.
He had an extended run at centre-back alongside Connor Goldson during the against-the-odds run that ended in penalty shoot-out heartache.
Bassey can also slot in at left-back, as he did in roughly half of his 50 appearances last term.
The now likely sale of Bassey comes after Rangers announced their fifth signing of the summer on Friday.
Attacking midfielder Malik Tillman has joined on loan from Bayern Munich, a deal that follows the earlier captures of Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence, John Souttar and Antonio Colak.
In other news, Ryan Kent and Morelos ‘may be quitting Rangers for £70,000-a-week deals after confirmed talks’.