Super Eagles Star Joe Aribo Faces Uncertain Future

Nigeria international Joe Aribo is facing an uncertain future at club level after a disappointing first season with English side Southampton.

Aribo joined Saints last summer after a successful stint with Scottish giants, Glasgow Rangers that saw him win a league championship and score a goal in a Europa League Final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

His stock was high at international level too after an impressive showing for Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations, so it was no surprise when he was lured to the English Premier League 12 months ago, with Southampton and Rangers agreeing a deal reportedly worth £10million.

However, Aribo’s career stalled badly during his first 12 months at St Mary’s and betting sites are predicting he may be on the way out.

The 27-year-old midfielder found himself playing a bit-part role for Saints, making only 13 starts in a campaign that ended with the South Coast club being relegated from the top tier of English football.

“For me, [last season was] very frustrating,” Aribo told Planet Sport Football Africa podcast recently. “It was tough because you want to do so well for yourself, you know. I had a new challenge and I wanted to hit the ground running.

“And obviously, I had all of these goals and what I wanted to do, also to help the team. But I didn’t feel I got the chance to do that and it was really frustrating. It was a season of learning.”

And while Aribo stopped short of bringing his Southampton future into question, manager Russell Martin poured more gas on the speculation by admitting publicly that the club are willing to sell a host of players from last season should an acceptable offer be received.

“We will end up playing a few players [in the opening game]… then at some point they could end up going,” Martin told talkSPORT. “But you have to be realistic about the situation.

“We are really ready for that and prepared for that. Hopefully we can keep a few that have attracted real interest but we have to be realistic about the situation that a few might have to go to help us get players we really want in.”

While Martin did not name Aribo specifically, the midfielder’s lack of game time last season would suggest he is a front-runner to move on. And if the player wants to take his international career to the next level, a Southampton exit may be the best for him.