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Rangers hero Sergio Porrini has watched Bassey’s progress and has been impressed by the former Leicester City kid who he compared in style to Giorgio Chellini, Megasportsarena.com reports.
The Italians know a thing or two about the art of good defending.
And Sergio Porrini believes Serie A clubs are now casting their eyes on Rangers stopper Calvin Bassey.
The former Ibrox iron man even says they’ve identified him as a ball-playing stopper in the mould of no-nonsense icon Giorgio Chellini.
Porrini, now assistant manager of Albania, believes it won’t only be English Premier League outfits queuing up if Rangers decide to cash in on their biggest asset over the summer.
The Nigerian international has really come to the fore this season and his heroics as the Light Blues went all the way to the Europa League haven’t gone unnoticed.
It has seen Bassey’s profile and his value soar to new heights, amongst the top young defenders in Europe.
Former boss Steven Gerrard is keen to take him to Aston Villa and any deal will have to be well in excess of a Rangers’ record sale that saw Nathan Patterson head for Everton.
Porrini knows Rangers won’t be short of options and reckons that there are also a number of top sides from his homeland considering a move for Bassey.
The former Rangers star said: “I am not surprised that Aston Villa and other top clubs are looking at him. I know there has been Serie A interest and a lot of teams will be wanting to sign him this summer.
“Any club who has the budget will be trying to get him because he is a top, young defender who will only get better. The good thing for Rangers is that he is still under contract and if they are to sell him it would take a lot of money to get him.”
Porrini thinks Bassey has got it all as a defender and believes he has similar characteristics to Italian and Juventus legend Chellini in his prime.
He admitted: “I have been really impressed with Bassey. He has been really impressive this season.
“He caught my eye especially in the big European games and for me he was as good as anyone in the Europa League final.
“He is quick. physically strong and very committed. For me, he is a real defender.
“You have the defender who is very good on the ball and the other is more like a Giorgio Chiellini who is very strong but also has the quality to play. I think Bassey falls into that later category.”
Bassey will be a big decision for Rangers this summer. Do they sell him or keep him and develop him further and look to try and get more going into the final year of his contract? The money would also allow Giovanni van Bronckhorst to strengthen his squad further for next season.
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