George Overhill

Thu 18 May 2023 8:10, UK

Jose Cifuentes has been made a “priority signing” by Michael Beale and is now close to signing for Rangers amid talks to buy out his contract, the Daily Record reports.

The Ecuador international was put on the club’s radar by Ross Wilson after interest from Leeds United and Celtic and now the Gers are in “pole position” and set to beat Toulouse to his signature.

He joins Jack Butland in a pair of Ibrox deals that are nearing completion after agreements for Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling were wrapped up early.

Rangers reportedly also have one or two more deals “ongoing” on top of that, as the number of signings lined up could reach as many as six before the transfer window has even officially opened.

Busy

The Light Blues look set to complete the Cifuentes deal in the same way they did the January moves for Todd Cantwell and Nico Raskin, by taking a small hit on a fee to land a player with six months left on his contract.

It has paid off with the aforementioned pair, and if a third midfielder can arrive in that manner and follow their lead it should be a boost to the squad.

The 24-year-old wants to move to Europe and it looks like the now-Nottingham Forest man Wilson has left Beale with a parting gift by turning him onto the Los Angeles FC player.

Butland is the most high profile of the targets so far and it appears a lot of work has been going on in the background already, but still needs pushing over the line.

With possibly two more in the pipeline as well the club might be in position to fill the majority of the gaps left by players departing on free transfers with new arrivals immediately next month.

In terms of getting ahead of the game Beale and company deserve credit for making moves early, but ultimate judgment on the transfer business won’t be possible until they show their worth on the pitch next season.

In other Rangers news, an official Gers partner has given the run down after a club legend has been linked to a sensational takeover return.