Rangers reportedly line up summer signings eight and nine in the shape of Jose Cifuentes and Danilo – with a left-sided centre-back such as Auston Trusty set to be number ten.
Michael Beale has completely revamped the Rangers squad this summer and has already bolstered the team with seven summer singings to add to the two the Englishman made in January.
According to the latest reporting, the signings of Ecuadorean midfielder Jose Cifuentes and Brazilian striker Danilo are now set to follow, although we’re not sure in which order.
Rangers will pay fees for both players with the deal to sign Danilo said to be around a substantial £6m – a not inconsiderable fee for a side in the Ibrox club’s current situation.
Barring any late disasters, Danilo and Jose Cifuentes will join the seven other signings in Michael Beale’s squad with Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, Sam Lammers, Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun already in place ahead of the new campaign.
Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin were signed back in January.
Rangers not set to stop as signings eight and nine
As the club rolls round to the end of July, it’s quite remarkable that we could be going into August with only one of the widely reported transfer targets outstanding; the elusive left-sided centre-back.
Whilst Michael Beale was coy on a potential move for another defender given the good news regarding Leon King’s injury and the emergence of Johnly Ykfeko, there’s some not inconsiderable transfer sounds around a new defender.
This comes with Rangers having gone through a defensive injury crisis last season which – without sugar coating it – played a huge role in the collapse of our season.
Whilst all the freshness that’s been breathed into the squad this year was also a requirement which the club fell short on last summer, we did not have enough cover at centre-back and it’s cost us big.
We don’t suspect that Rangers will take the same risks this season and the likes of Auston Trusty or Jonathan Panzo are your safest bets as signings eight, nine and ten prepare to complete the club’s summer incomings.
According to reports, USA international Auston Trusty is the club’s first-choice target at centre-half and if Michael Beale can get his man this summer, on paper this is the best transfer window at Ibrox in a generation.
After that, and taking into account the outgoings that are expected over the next few weeks, Rangers’ squad will pretty much have taken shape under Beale, even if we wouldn’t bet against a surprise coming later in the window.
