With Sam Lammers now officially an FC Twente player, Rangers can draw a line under one transfer saga that probably rumbled on for longer than they’d have liked.
Much was made, during the time in which Lammers was reportedly a target for both AZ Alkmaar and former loan employers Utrecht, of the Dutchman’s supposed £20,000-a-week wages.
The expectation was that, if he was to seal a return to the Eredivisie, a pay cut would be required. It has not been confirmed as of yet whether Lammers did indeed accept such a reduction in his wages, though it can probably be assumed that he did.
Jose Cifuentes, in contrast, could soon become a much richer man after all-but sealing his own Rangers departure.
Jose Cifuentes nears Rangers exit
Furthermore, while Rangers made a loss on Lammers – just two goals to show for his £3 million price-tag – the Glasgow giants could find themselves enjoying quite the substantial windfall should Cifuentes seal a permanent move to Aris Limassol later down the line.
All About Aris reports that Aris will sign the Ecuador international on loan.
There will be a £4.2 million clause in his contract. A fee £3 million larger than the one Rangers paid to liberate Cifuentes from Los Angeles FC a year ago.
The Sport Time website provided further clarity on Saturday morning. They say that the purchase clause in Cifuentes’ Aris contract will be an ‘option’ rather than an ‘obligation’, meaning the former MLS ace will have to live up to expectations if he is to become a permanent member of the roster.
It is not only the transfer sum that raises eyebrows, meanwhile.
Sport Time add that Aris are paying Cifuentes ‘crazy money’ to swap Scotland for Greece.
The 25-year-old will reportedly earn somewhere between £16,000 and £24,000-a-week. That is ‘by far the most (Aris) has given a footballer in it’s history’, to quote Sport Time.
Cifuentes should also earn a raise on the wages he currently takes home at Ibrox, per Salary Sport.
The best paid player in Aris’ history
Following an impressive goals return from midfield over in America, big things were expected when Rangers snapped up Cifuentes for what looked like a bargain fee of just £1.2 million last summer.
The South American underwhelmed at Ibrox, however, failing to find the net in just nine Scottish Premiership appearances before slipping down the pecking order once Philippe Clement replaced Mick Beale in the dugout.
Cifuentes, who was not helped by Beale’s tendency to deploy him in an ill-fitting deep-lying role, returned across the Atlantic in February when he joined Cruzeiro on loan.
“Arriving and wearing this Cruzeiro shirt is very exciting,” he told Itatiaia at the time. “Something very beautiful.
“Every player dreams of something like this. My intention of coming was to join the many great players who are at the club. I’m here to help and to learn from them.”
That dream soon turned into a nightmare, however.
Nicolas Larcamon – the coach who helped bring Cifuentes to Brazil – was sacked almost immediately after his arrival. The Rangers loanee has featured only three times in league action so far too, left out of the last three fixtures following his return from the Copa America.
Cruzeiro may, therefore, be in no rush to stand in Cifuentes’ way as Aris look to take control of the Ecuadorian’s stuttering career.
