Daily Record shows first sign of back tracking over £25m Ibrox star Calvin Bassey

The Daily Record has taken the first steps to dampen down expectations of a bumper transfer deal for Calvin Ramsey. 

Over the last month there has been virtually constant hype about the defender with clubs from Italy and Spain apparently ready to join a bidding war led by Aston Villa. 

Steven Gerrard did sign Bassey from Leicester City in the summer of 2020 but used him as back-up only for Borna Barisic. 

At £8-10m there might be one club prepared to take a speculative punt on Bassey but with a £25m price tag and comparisons with Virgil van Dijk and Kieran Tierney disappointment is inevitable. 

Trying to cover every eventuality, the Record reports: 

Bassey will now weigh up his future before returning for pre-season with Gerrard keen to tempt the full-back to the English Premier League. 

However, The Birmingham Mail note that a £25m fee could price out Aston Villa with the club weighing up other options. 

Scotland cap Aaron Hickey is believed to be a cheaper alternative, with Bologna reportedly hoping for £18million to take the former Hearts defender away from Serie A this summer. 

Stuttgart defender Borna Sosa is also on the wish list as the club look to find someone to compete for the left-back role with Lucas Digne next season. However, Bassey appears to be the number one target for Villa this summer. 

With 31 SPFL starts over the course of two seasons there are better ways for Villa and others to spend £25m.