Rangers summer signing Joe Aribo admits he has studied the games of Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira after being likened to the midfield pair.
Aribo signed for Rangers from Charlton following the expiration of his contract after helping Lee Bowyer’s side reach the Sky Bet Championship.
And he is determined to keep progressing as he arms himself with homework on the former Manchester City duo.
The 22-year-old said: “Over the past few years I have heard a lot of comparisons, some people have said Yaya Toure, some people have said Vieira, so I have been looking a lot at their game and what they do on the pitch.
“I saw some stuff in the papers and ex-managers have said it.
“It makes me very happy, they are both very good players and I would love to play even a little bit like them.
“It’s vital to study, you need to see what they were doing on the pitch and it will eventually help you improve.”
Aribo’s move to Glasgow was heavily influenced by another world-class midfielder, Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.
Aribo, who was promoting Rangers Soccer Schools, said: “I was speaking to him and I just got a feel of what he was like as a person and that was something that pushed me towards Rangers.
“It was a very big factor. You know what he’s done in the game. I just felt comfortable with him and I just thought it was a no-brainer. That was just after the play-off final.”
Celtic were reported to be interested in Aribo but the midfielder denied any knowledge.
“I wasn’t aware of that but my agent might know a bit more about that,” he said.
“There were a few others but once I had spoken to the gaffer I knew this is where I wanted to go.
“It’s a massive club with a great history and great facilities that can help me improve.”
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer was openly sceptical about the benefit of Aribo moving to Scotland and former Addicks manager Chris Powell echoed his thoughts.
But Aribo said: “I don’t really think about that, I have just come here to play my football and do what I need to do to show how good I am.
“I knew the size of the club and what I was getting myself into. I am just glad I managed to get it over the line.”
