Ex-Southampton & Rangers star still available for £0 - Blackburn & Cardiff must swoop | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City should both consider a free move for former Southampton and Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo

Former Southampton and Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo remains a free agent following his release from the former at the end of last season, as Football League World takes a look at two EFL clubs that should consider signing the Nigerian on a free transfer.

Aribo, 30, came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic and quickly became a key member of the Addicks squad from 2017 onwards, enjoying his best season in the 2018/19 campaign, scoring nine and assisting five in 36 third-tier games.

This earned him a move to Rangers in the summer of 2019 for a mere £300k, where he continued to be an ever-present in the middle of the park in Glasgow for the next three years, before returning to England with Southampton in July 2022 for a potential £10 million.

However, since his move to the South Coast, his career has taken something of a nosedive, and he now finds himself on the lookout for a new club at the age of 30.

Why EFL clubs should consider signing Joe Aribo as a free agent

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Aribo spent the second half of last season on loan with Leicester City, but in just six appearances for the Foxes, he was unable to keep the club afloat in the Championship, and he was subsequently released in the summer by the Saints.

Whilst the past few years haven't been his best, the 34-capped Nigerian international clearly still possesses quality more than capable of shining through in the English second tier, let alone the third tier, having helped Rangers come within a penalty shootout away from lifting the Europa League in 2022.

With over a century of appearances for Rangers and Southampton, and just shy of that number for Charlton, Aribo ought to be on the shortlist of numerous EFL clubs that have left a gap in their registration open, as FLW takes a look at two clubs that should consider moves for the technically gifted midfielder ASAP.

Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers have never spent beyond their means under the Venky's ownership, and that trend did not change over the summer despite Tony Mowbray's best efforts to do so.

The former Premier League champions have often had to make do with frees, loans, and signings for minimal fees over the years, and with the additions of Moussa Baradji, Gaddy Beyuku, Sam Morsy, and Jayden Fevrier, nothing has changed.

According to talkSPORT's Alex Crook, Blackburn were readying a move for former Southampton hero Will Smallbone following the closure of the summer window, whilst Football League World exclusively revealed in mid-August that both Burnley and Stoke City had joined West Bromwich Albion in the race for the Irishman's signature.

No move for Smallbone has since materialised, and with a move for Ryotaro Ito having also fallen through, Mowbray's side remain short in the middle of the park, though their willingness to explore the free agent market is clear to see.

Aribo, despite his struggles over recent years, would add a lot of experience and technical quality to the Rovers midfield, the latter being something they sorely lack at the moment.

On a free transfer, it wouldn't be a huge gamble for Blackburn to take, and one that certainly has more potential upside than downside.

Cardiff City

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Following their return to the Championship, Cardiff have enjoyed an especially quiet transfer window, bringing in just four players, including the returns of Nathan Trott and Callum Scanlon.

Jack Moylan joined from Lincoln City, whilst Krystian Bielik arrived from West Bromwich Albion, as Brian Barry-Murphy looks to cement the Bluebirds' status in the second tier once again.

Despite just one win in their opening eight Championship games, Cardiff can count themselves incredibly unlucky to have not won at least a couple more, as Barry-Murphy's side have created chances in abundance, but have just failed to convert them at a high level.

Midfield remains an area where Cardiff are relatively short on numbers, with Moylan, David Turnbull, Alex Robertson, and Joel Colwill the only senior options available to the Irish head coach.

Aribo, on a free transfer, would provide excellent competition as a ten, an eight, or a six, and his experience alone would be greatly appreciated by Barry-Murphy, who himself lacks that at Championship level.

The Nigerian's ability on the ball in tight areas, eye for a pass, and ability to get forward would surely make him a seamless fit in Cardiff's current system, and on a free transfer, there is a lot to love about this potential move.