By Wayne Veysey

20th Aug, 2023 | 8:53am

Sources: Hellas Verona make move to sign Southampton star Joe Aribo

Hellas Verona have registered their interest in signing Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo, sources have told Football Insider.

The Serie A club are exploring a loan move with an option to buy the Nigeria international next summer.

Aribo only joined Southampton in the summer of 2022 after they triggered the £10million release clause in his Rangers contract.

Aribo started on the bench for Southampton in their game at Plymouth on Saturday.

The 27-year-old appears to have fallen down the pecking order at St Mary’s Stadium this season, with manager Russell Martin only fielding him for eight minutes in the Championship so far this campaign.

Despite the recent sale of James Ward-Prowse, Aribo was only handed a spot on the bench this weekend with the trio of Adam Armstrong, Shea Charles and Stuart Armstrong all picked ahead of him.

Aribo also struggled for minutes in the second half of the 2022/23 season with the Saints.

He appeared in 18 consecutive games at the start of the Premier League season, but struggled for minutes in 2023 under caretaker manager Ruben Selles.

Prior to his Southampton move, Aribo was playing regularly at Rangers and was a key part of the Scottish side’s midfield.

He scored nine and assisted 10 times in the 2021/22 season before completing a move to Southampton that summer.

While at the Glasgow club, Aribo was a part of Rangers’ 2020/21 title-winning side under Steven Gerrard as well as lifting the Scottish Cup.

In other news, West Ham star undergoing Southampton medical after deal agreed