Rangers told to launch £35m signing spree as new Calvin Bassey details emerge – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Rangers must reinvest the fees received for Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo “very quickly” in order to seal Champions League group stage football.
The former Leeds and Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted it would be “ludicrous” for the Ibrox club to rest on their laurels ahead of tough games in Europe’s premier competition.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed (20 July) that Rangers star Bassey has signed a contract with Ajax and will be unveiled very “soon”.
According to Sky Sports (17 July), Ajax will pay an initial fee of €22million (£18.7million) which could rise to €27million (£22.9million) after add-ons.
Bassey’s countryman Aribo has also left Ibrox, joining Southampton in a deal worth a reported £10million after add-ons – bringing Rangers’ total summer incomings to almost £35million.
Whelan urged the Gers to go into the market “very quickly” to spend their spoils and Champions League group stage football.
“I think you’ve got to try and get these players in before these Champions League games,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“You want to keep up with Celtic in that regard – so they’ll have to replace the big players that they’ve lost.
“It’s fantastic business, and this money will go so far in terms of strengthening the whole team.
“But if you’re letting players like Bassey and Aribo leave, you have that money available – you can’t risk not spending it and missing out on Champions League football altogether.
“That would be ludicrous. They’ve got to get in the market very quickly and get these players in the Champions League squad to give themselves the best possible chance.”
The Gers will play Belgian runners-up Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
The winners of the two-legged affair will potentially face teams like Monaco or Benfica in the play-off round.
In other news, pundit claims Rangers may “unearth a superstar” amid transfer claim.