Rangers told to agree ‘amazing’ Calvin Bassey deal amid Virgil van Dijk claim – pundit
Danny Mills has told Rangers to hand Calvin Bassey a lucrative new deal after his dominant performance in the defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in Wednesday’s (18 May) Europa League final.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United and England defender claimed Bassey will sign a new deal if the club make him feel wanted.
The 22-year-old put in the performance of his burgeoning career at the heart of the Gers’ defence as they drew 1-1 with Frankfurt after extra time before heartbreak in the shoot-out.
The Nigeria international’s current deal expires in the summer of 2024 but Mills has urged Rangers to reward him for his “fantastic season”.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “They should tie him down.
“Go in and offer him a new deal if you can. For most players it’s not about money, it’s about that feeling of being wanted and appreciated. If they say to him ‘You’ve done well this season, we want to offer you a new contract’. Then the money and the figures will look after themselves.
“Just the fact you go to him and say ‘You’ve been amazing for us’ that is sometimes enough to keep a player happy.
“That’s good man-management because it makes you feel special and two inches taller. That’s all you have to do sometimes it’s not about an extra x, y or z. No, just make them feel like they are really important.
“Ibrox is a special place to play, they will have European nights next season so realistically what sort of level is he going to go? I would suggest the bottom half of the Premier League. He’s not going into the top six or the top eight.
“You look at Virgil van Dijk, he went to Southampton before he went to Liverpool.
“There will be suitors but they might be further down the Premier League. Maybe another fantastic season at Rangers will be better for him and obviously much better for Rangers.”
In other news, Rangers could include a special clause in deal for Joe Aribo after a £10million update.