The timeline for Rangers signing Jose Cifuentes is one that has changed on an almost weekly basis.
For weeks now, reports have all been saying the same thing on both sides of the Atlantic, that the deal is all but done.
Until Rangers fans see Jose Cifuentes with the scarf above his head, nothing is confirmed, with transfer journalist Dean Jones claiming that this week will be pivotal, as told to GiveMeSport.
Michael Beale said as much himself after the match with Newcastle United but suggested that a transfer is close.
It’s not often a manager speaks in such detail about another club’s player if a move isn’t on the cards.
Rangers need to push on with Jose Cifuentes transfer
The longer it goes without a deal being completed though, the bigger the chance there is of another club coming in for the Ecuador international.
A sentiment agreed with by Dean Jones:
“In the meantime, Cifuentes could still join Rangers.
“This has dragged out longer than initially expected, but he is playing in MLS and the scheduling there hasn’t helped at all, particularly because LAFC have been going through a tricky spell of form.
“They’ve needed to use him and couldn’t let him go at the moment because it would have caused them even more problems.
“That could change now because MLS is going on a break.
“This is the ideal time to get this deal tied up. I feel like, if Cifuentes joining Rangers is going to happen, it’s going to happen in the next week or so.”
Jones is right, unless Rangers are waiting for something like Glen Kamara to move on before confirming the deal for Jose Cifuentes, there shouldn’t be any hold up.
A player rated as highly as £6m not that long ago and attracting interest from the Premier League is now valued by LAFC for as little as £2m according to Rangers fan media Heart and Hand.
Ignore the situation with his contract, this is a decision that Rangers need to make quickly, given how good a player the 24-year old is.
As Jones says, Cifuentes is halfway through a season so is, at least, match fit, but he would still need to integrate with the squad and friendly fixtures are soon ticked off, as is time on the raining ground.
The Rangers board needs to go that little bit further, back Michael Beale and get Jose Cifuentes signed, before it’s too late.
