By Daniel Feliciano

23rd May, 2023 | 12:10pm

Rangers 'really close' to signing Jose Cifuentes amid 'very advanced' negotiations with LA FC - Fabrizio Romano

Rangers are very close to agreeing a transfer to sign Jose Cifuentes from LA FC after “very advanced” negotiations, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The club have been strongly linked with the signature of the Ecuadorian international, with the player’s agents having conversations with Rangers about a summer move.

Now while speaking on his Here We Go podcast (22 May), Romano has provided a further update on their pursuit and insisted it is “really close”.

“Jose Cifuentes from LAFC is really close to Rangers, there have been negotiations, very advanced, between Cifuentes and Rangers and the clubs of course,” he said.

“The agents of the player met with Rangers two days ago and so Cifuentes could leave MLS to join Rangers.”

Perfect

There aren’t many Rangers fans out there who can claim to be an expert on all thing Cifuentes, but it’s excellent to see the club moving quickly in the transfer market.

Kieran Dowell, Jack Butland and Dujon Sterling are all reportedly very close to joining the club already on free transfers, and the arrival of Cifuentes would see four deals wrapped up before the transfer window is even officially open.

That’s a perfect start to the window where such big changes are needed in the squad, and with several players leaving at the end of their contract we don’t have to worry too much about freeing up space for them.

Now however, we can’t stop there and have to continue finding ways to bolster the squad and strengthen the team to be able to reach our limit for next season where we simply have to compete with Celtic and win trophies.

Cifuentes would bring energy and technical quality to an ageing midfield and if Beale has identified him as a target, then we have to back the boss.

In other Rangers news, duo to get a rare start in final home game of the season in our predicted XI for Hearts clash.