Rangers are close to a deal for Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes according to report by an Ecuadorian journalist.
The 24-year old has been rumoured to be a target for a while with his contract set to expire in December, and a cut-price deal is on the cards.
Andreas Ponce, via Radio Diblu FM, has claimed that Toulouse are also interested in Jose Cifuentes but that Rangers are leading the chase and “close to signing” the 15-times capped international.
Rangers are in need of midfield reinforcements and Jose Cifuentes is a natural box-to-box option similar to that of Nicolas Raskin.
Michael Beale had looked likely to miss out when Leeds United and Brighton were named as potential options.
Toulouse will be looking to replace the possible departures of Branco van den Boomen and Stijn Spierings, both midfielders themselves available for free this summer.
The original link to Cifuentes was from The Athletic’s Tom Bogert who broke news of our interest in James Sands last January.
Rangers shopping smart in their attempts to bring Jose Cifuentes to Ibrox
The Rangers gaffer appears to be utilising the Bosman market to full effect given some of the names mentioned.
Jose Cifuentes joining a long list of out of contract players linked with a move to Ibrox.
Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Josh Maja are the names most frequently rumoured but Cifuentes shows again that Rangers are willing to cast their net further if the deal and player are the right fit.
Getting the majority of the recruitment done early will be key if Rangers are to navigate the Champions League qualifiers.
It doesn’t matter if the squad is still bloated at that point but getting quality additions in on free transfers allows for a smoother negotiation process.
Michael Beale has to get the key players he wants in place first so that he can plan how his team is going to look going into fixtures that could be worth as much as £30m to the club.
Midfield was an area that was badly exposed last season with Scott Arfield and Steven Davis having to start against Liverpool.
With Kieran Dowell reportedly on his way to Rangers and Jose Cifuentes potentially next, I don’t think the two veterans will be lining up again together next season.
