Gboly Ariyibi is off to a hot start with Chesterfield this season, prompting several transfer offers from a club in a higher league.
Chesterfield manager manager Danny Wilson has confirmed that Championship club Barnsley have made an offer for the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National team winger. However, Wilson insists that the club is not looking to sell Ariyibi, despite the fact that the 21-year-old is reportedly in the last season of his contract.
“We received an offer from Barnsley for Gboly, which can only be described as derisory for a player of his ability and potential,” Wilson told the club’s official website. “The offer was rejected out of hand. I am keen to keep Gboly as he is very much part of my plans and I know that the board share the same view.”
According to the Derbyshire Times, Chesterfield’s valuation of Ariyibi is somewhere around £3 million pounds, but Barnsley’s opening bid was only around £150,000. A second offer has reportedly been made, but Chesterfield swiftly declined it much like the first. According to Sky Sports, Oxford, Rotherham and Reading also submitted offers to Chesterfield over the summer.
The 21-year-old winger has started and played all 90 minutes in each of Chesterfield’s four matches to start the League One season. Ariyibi provided an assist in the team’s 3-1 win over Swindon Town on August 13th and has served as one of the team’s main attacking outlets throughout a start that sees the club sitting fourth in League One.
Internationally, Ariyibi has featured for the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team and the U.S. Under-23s, scoring one goal in four appearances for the latter.
What do you think of the news? What do you expect from Ariyibi going forward?
Share your thoughts below.