Man City join Arsenal in race for Charlton midfielder Joe Aribo who can go on free transfer this summer
Lee Bowyer is desperate to get the former non-league star to sign a new deal before he quits the club for nothing
MANCHESTER CITY and Arsenal are fighting to sign Charlton ace Joe Aribo on a free, according to reports.
The midfielder, 22, is out of contract in the summer and can leave on a free.
Gunners guru David Ornstein claims City have joined the race for the promising talent.
insists Celtic, Rangers, Southampton and Rennes are also in the hunt.
Addicks boss Lee Bowyer is desperate for Aribo to sign a new deal after a brilliant campaign.
The playmaker has been one of the leading figures in Charlton's promotion push via the League One play-offs.
And Bowyer told the : “We are trying our hardest to get Joe to sign a contract.
“The speculation with Arsenal, if that is the case, shows we have done a good job with him.
"He was hardly playing last season, now he has got teams like Arsenal supposedly looking at him.”
Charlton snapped up Aribo from non-league Staines in 2015 and he has played 95 games - scoring 16 goals.
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Bowyer added: "I’ve spoken to Joe on a number of occasions and he knows how we feel.
"We want him to sign not just for us, but for his own career so we just need to get over this barrier that’s been put in front of us.
"Joe is a good lad. He comes to me and I give him advice and if anything was turning his head or putting him off his game I’m sure he would come and talk to me about it."