Oscar Cortes’ move to Rangers is ‘on the right track’ with the Scottish Premiership giants closing in on the £4 million forward, according to RC Lens coach Franck Haise.
While a deal for Fluminense left-back Jefte hit the buffers on the penultimate day of the winter window – his season-long loan contract at APOEL Nicosia putting an obstacle in Philippe Clement’s way – Rangers appear unlikely to run into similar problems as they look to get another highly-rated 20-year-old over the line before the close of play tonight.
Oscar Cortes, per The National, was in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Rangers are expected to sign the Colombia international before the deadline passes, bringing in Cortes on loan only six months after he arrived on French soil from Millionaires.
Rangers to sign Oscar Cortes from Lens
Lens coach Franck Haise, meanwhile, confirms that talks are heading in the right direction, Cortes seemingly keen on a move to Scotland after turning his nose up at a number of second-tier teams.
“At the start of the month, we had offers from of Ligue 2 clubs,” Haise tells La Voix du Nord. “But Oscar and his entourage were not open to a departure.
“(With Rangers) there are still a few details to be resolved. But we are on the right track.”
Cortes, a very right-footed forward, could fill the void created by Abdallah Sima’s injury. The Senegal international – Rangers’ top scorer from open play this season – will be out ‘long-term’, Clement confirms, due to a problem he picked up during the African Cup of Nations.
Leaving France already
Cortes scored six goals and set up three more in his final 19 appearances for Millionaires. He has found the net in Ligue 1 too, despite only playing a handful of games in Lens colours.
“(Cortes) was on of the heroes of the under-20 side, and he did well in the Libertadores at the start of the year,” South American expert Tim Vickery tells talkSPORT of a player who scored four goals at the recent U20 FIFA World Cup, winning the Bronze Ball award given to the tournament’s third-best player.
“He is a winger but can play anywhere cross the frontline. He’s strong on the ball, there is some pace there, and the possibility of goal in him.
“He did well at under-20 level and then he went to France, and it doesn’t seem to have worked out. They are giving up on him very, very early.
“I like him. (But) I would be a little perturbed by Lens seeming to give up on him so early.”
