Club given a hint over Bassey plans

CALVIN Bassey is ‘open’ to discussing a transfer from Rangers to Villa this summer.

Steven Gerrard wants to recruit another left-back to add competition for Lucas Digne, who joined the club for £25 million from Everton in January.

Bologna’s Aaron Hickey remains a long-term target for Villa, while Sergio Gomez, of Anderlecht, and Quentin Merlin, of Nantes, are viewed as cheaper alternatives to the Scotland international and Bassey.

Rangers could demand up to £25m for the former Leicester youth star, who was signed by Gerrard for Rangers in 2020. The Nigeria international is being tracked by several clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga.

Villa could hold an advantage due to the Gerrard factor. Although Bassey is settled at Ibrox, it is believed he would be ‘open’ to talking to Villa.

Rangers do not want to sell the 22-year-old after he was named in the Europa League team of the season following the club’s run to the final, which ended in heartbreak as Frankfurt beat the Scottish giants on penalties in Seville last month.

“My dream, obviously, is to win trophies,’’ said Bassey. “I want to be part of a winning team and test myself against some of the best players in the world domestically and at the international level.”

He made 50 appearances for Rangers last season and also played a key role in the club’s Scottish Cup success, having won several man-of-the-match awards along the way.

Former Villa and Rangers boss Alex McLeish believes the Gers would be right not to sell Bassey for less than £25m and praised the player’s versatility. Bassey is capable of playing at the centre or left-hand side of defence and McLeish revealed: “In the beginning when I saw Bassey I wasn’t sure if he was a left full-back, wing-back or centreback and he’s been versatile enough to play in all three.

“If you can hold on to players then that would be great but sometimes the offers, especially from the Premier League, would be difficult to resist.”