Connect with us

Sport

What Rangers supporters can expect on deadline day: transfer state of play on Cortes, Jefte and Cifuentes

Published

on

Philippe Clement should be relatively satisfied with his January transfer business so far – but the Rangers boss will still hope to add at least another two new signings before the transfer window closes on Thursday at 11.30pm.

The Ibrox side brought in Fabio Silva on loan from Premier League outfit Wolves early doors and the Portuguese striker has settled into life with his new club. He was followed through the door by midfielder Mohamed Diomande on an initial loan from FC Nordsjælland with an obligation to buy for around £4.5million in the summer. The Ivorian was granted a work permit and arrived in Scotland earlier this week.

Clement and Gers’ new director of football recruitment Nils Koppen continue to work on other targets with a left-back, a wide player and a striker still on the club’s wish list. The recruitment team are still looking to finalise deals for Brazilian full-back Jefte from Fluminense and Colombian winger Oscar Cortes from French side RC Lens.

Defender Jefte is currently on loan at APOEL Nicosia and an agreement was struck between both parties last week to allow the player to leave the Cypriot club early. However, it’s now been reported that the 20-year-old has gone AWOL and has not had any contact with his loan club in FIVE DAYS.

Attacker Cortes is edging closer to sealing his move to Rangers after arriving in Glasgow this afternoon. He has managed only four substitute appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit since joining them in the summer from boyhood club Millonarios. He will now undergo a medical and is expected to join initially on loan until the summer, with the Glasgow giants then obtaining an option to buy, despite the fee remaining unknown at this time. Meanwhile, Rangers have granted Brazilian club Cruzeiro permission to speak to central midfielder Jose Cifuentes. The Ecuadorian international only arrived in Glasgow from Los Angeles FC in the summer under Michael Beale, penning a four-year deal. He has failed to live up to expectations so far and last week it emerged that Turkish Super Lig side Rizespor had agreed a deal on an initial loan move, with a £2million option to buy the player in the summer. But Cifuentes wasn’t keen on a move to Turkey.

An offer for first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland from Premier League side Nottingham Forest has also been booted out, with Rangers issuing a strict hands-off warning after confirming he is not for sale. Welsh forward Rabbi Matondo has been linked with a move to German strugglers Mainz, but it’s believed the player wants to stay and fight for his place.

Copyright © 2023 NetSport