It would probably be a stretch to suggest that the future of Rangers left-back Jefte took a bit of a twist on the final day of the January transfer window.
Ben Chilwell had been expected to leave Chelsea this month, anyway.
Enzo Maresca rather ruthlessly booted the England international out of his first-team plans over the summer, Chillwell’s only action across the entirety of the current season coming against fourth-tier Barrow in the EFL Cup.
Yet, with Chelsea expressing an interest in Jefte at Rangers, the sight of one left-back leaving Stamford Bridge as the Premier League giants set their sights on a younger, fitter model may set the nerves jangling at Ibrox as the 11pm deadline approaches.
According to The Athletic, Chilwell, who joined Chelsea in a £50 million deal from Leicester City back in 2020, is set to join London neighbours Crystal Palace on loan for the rest of the season.
Prove his fitness, and impress at Selhurst Park, and one suspects that a permanent move will be on the cards. It is no secret that Palace want a left-wing-back better suited to Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system than the solid but defensively-minded Tyrick Mitchell.
Chilwell certainly fits the bill, provided he can stay clear of the sort of injuries which have interrupted his career over the last few years.
Chelsea pave way for Jefte with Rangers ace a potential Ben Chilwell replacement
Whatever happens between now and May, Chelsea will again be looking to move him on permanently when the summer arrives.
Jefte, meanwhile, appears to be one of the leading candidates when it comes to long-term Chilwell replacement’s. The good news, from an Ibrox perspective, is that a bid appears more likely to arrive at the end of the season rather than the middle of it, if indeed Chelsea do opt to step up their interest in a player who has proved to be excellent value for money since joining Rangers in a £400,000 deal from Fluminense.
“For sure, you have a feeling of relief,” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told the media when asked about the impending close of the winter market.
“The players you are going to see [in the squad against West Ham on Monday night], they are going to be here until the end, so there is not any noise about some of the players that are there.”
Maresca also indicated that Chelsea are unlikely to make any moves to bring in reinforcements before the close of play today.
“From now on until the end, we go on with these players and no more,” the former Manchester City and Leicester coach adds.
Philippe Clement urges Jefte to stay at Ibrox
After a slow start, Jefte has been one of Rangers’ most-improved players in recent months. The all-action wideman was outstanding again as Philippe Clement’s team put four goals without reply past Ross County over the weekend.
And, while Clement plays down rumours regarding Ridvan Yilmaz’s future, the Gers boss feels his other left-back would be better off staying put and developing his game further before embarking upon a big-money switch elsewhere.
“Maybe one day, if he makes a normal evolution, I think one day he will be ready for [a club like Chelsea],” Clement said last month.
“But, for the moment, it’s too early. And I think this is a really good place for him to develop. So he’s totally not busy with all these rumours, totally not.”
“I understand one moment when it’s a good situation for the club and the player [to move on]. It’s not the nicest thing as a manager, but you need to let them go also. And you need to be proud of them that they can make that step. So we will work in the same way at Rangers, in a similar way that we did before.
“For [Jefte], it’s the best way to stay here, whatever comes.”
