Jose Cifuentes is inching closer to a move to Rangers as their first big summer signing, with Michael Beale getting his summer rebuild underway.
Reports from Ecuador, domestically with The 4th Official and the transfer supremo himself, Fabrizio Romano, all suggest that a deal is close for Jose Cifuentes.
The 24-year old midfield dynamo is an exciting prospect and the James Sands project has obviously not put off our recruitment team from shopping in MLS.
What will Jose Cifuentes bring to the Rangers midfield?
The obligatory YouTube highlight reel shows a number eight who is comfortable in possession and efficient at escaping pressure.
Ciffuentes engages in a high number of offensive and defensive duels but, currently, has a touch of Paul Scholes about him in that his enthusiasm outweighs his technique.
When it comes to tackling, at least.
Last season, data analyst Patrick Caskie ran the numbers on Jose Cifuentes and they paint the picture of a typical box-to-box midfielder.
With 15 goal contributions in 40 appearances, he also hits the sort of numbers that Michael Beale will be looking for.
What the numbers also show is that Jose Cifuentes is a go forwards type of midfielder, exactly what Rangers need.
When he is running with the ball, he drives into the attacking third and, in possession, he isn’t afraid to make passes into the penalty box.
The end of sideways passing and the much-maligned horsehoe could be at an end and there is a reason why “desperate” Premier League sides were linked with £6m moves last summer.
In Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin, the Gers gaffer has signed young, dynamic and confident midfielders.
They aren’t content with just maintaining possession for the sake of it.
Saturday’s Old Firm was the perfect example of what the pair will bring to Rangers when they are fully fit and fully up to speed.
A mobility and pace that has long been missing from the engine room, the type that will outclass domestic opposition and match those that we face on the continent.
Adding Jose Cifuentes to this Rangers squad would be the cherry on top of what is shaping up to be a very good looking midfield cake.
