Cruzeiro coach Nicolas Larcamon insists that there is nothing ‘finalised’ regarding a potential deal for £2 million Rangers midfielder Jose Cifuentes despite rumours of a potentially imminent Ibrox exit.
The Scottish transfer window may have closed last week – Rangers getting a deal for Oscar Cortes over the line before the clock struck 11pm – but that does not mean Philippe Clement’s squad will not be subject to further change.
Galatasaray remain keen on Ridvan Yilmaz, and have until February 9th to agree a deal which could set them back a reported £4 million. Clubs based in Brazil have a little longer, with Cruzeiro’s own deadline not until early March.
Cruzeiro are not facing the same limitations that face Galatasaray, then, though that has not stopped the Brazilian outfit from acting quickly and decisively in pursuit of a man who has not lived up to expectations since his move to Rangers in the summer of 2023.
Rangers could send Jose Cifuentes to Cruzeiro
According to Fabrizio Romano, Cifuentes has verbally agreed to join Cruzeiro on an initial loan deal, the Ecuadorian opting for the home comforts of South America rather than Caykur Rizespor of the Turkish Super Lig.
The Foxes’ recently-appointed head coach Nicolas Larcamon, however, was keen not to get too carried away when Cifuentes’ name was inevitably brought up in the aftermath of Romano’s Sunday update.
“I’m not counting on (Cifuentes joining), because nothing has been finalised yet,” Larcamon tells Ole. “I know there is some information involved.
“But, today, I only have the players who take to the field (and are currently part of my squad).”
The £2 million-rated Cifuentes has played 20 games in all competitions for Rangers. And despite arriving with a reputation as something of a goalscoring midfielder – he found the net at a pretty impressive rate over in America with Los Angeles FC – Cifuentes looks destined to depart without even a single goal to his name in Rangers colours.
Cifuentes has not featured in the Scottish Premiership since picking up a red card in December’s 3-1 win over Dundee. The signing of Mohamed Diomande from Nordsjaelland in Denmark pushes him even further down Philippe Clement’s pecking order.
‘There is interest’
“I don’t know (whether he will stay or go). There is interest,” Clement said last week when asked about Cifuentes’ future.
“Cifu is also interested (in a move away from Ibrox). But there is no deal yet, so we will see. He has a terrific mentality and we know, if he doesn’t make this step, we can count on him.
“We will see.”
