Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has caught the eye of many clubs around Europe, especially during the 2021/2022 Europa League campaign. The Rangers defender has been a pivotal part of Gio Van Bronckhorst’s side who made the final, losing on penalties to German opposition in Eintracht Frankfurt 5-4.
The 22-year-old has featured at left-back for the Gers but has found his feet at centre-back. Bassey has now been tipped to make a switch to the Premier League, with a lot of busy activities going on in the market there.
Newcastle are reportedly monitoring the situation and the Magpies are ready to launch a bid as soon as next week. However, they face opposition as Aston Villa are now favourites to land the Nigerian defender and it is likely he will be a big part of Steven Gerrard’s plans. A source close to a Villa transfer executive hinted that there was a ”big chance” that Bassey will be a Villa player in the coming weeks.
The Lions have recently completed the transfers of Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos from Olympique Marseille and Sevilla respectively. Gerrard intends to bolster his squad, especially his defence as both players are defensive players. Adding Bassey to the fray will most definitely sum up their defensive business on the market and allow them to exploit other options.
Calvin Bassey began his career at Leicester City where he played across all levels of the youth teams but never made a senior appearance for the Foxes. In July of 2020, he joined Rangers on a free transfer, signing a four-year deal that keeps him in Glasgow till the summer of 2024.
The transfer of Bassey will not be monetarily difficult as his current deal expires in two years. However, his salary is £6,500 weekly and this is within the range for either Newcastle or Aston Villa. There are currently no contract discussions between Rangers and Bassey and should he remain at the club, his salary is unlikely to increase.
However, Bassey is willing to consider his options this summer. Buying Bassey should not cost more than £2m but the salary remains to be seen as that will be the bone of contention for any party that wants his services. Rangers are open to selling Bassey should he insist on a departure. The defender was included in the Europa League team of the season, as well as teammates Ryan Kent and James Tavernier. Bassey also won the award for Young Player of The Season at Rangers and the highly-rated block is tipped for great things in the future.
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