One hurdle left for Rangers to complete impressive new Jose Cifuentes transfer as news emerges
There is now one hurdle left for Rangers to overcome to finally seal their seventh summer transfer in Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes.
The Gers have been rather impressive and efficient in their recruitment so far after announcing Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers as their sixth signing of the summer from Cremonese for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year deal at Ibrox.
The former Feyenoord man now follows Abdallah Simah, Sam Lammers, Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling and Kieran Dowell through the Ibrox doors this summer, but it is now clear that Michael Beale isn’t stopping there as he looks to significantly rebuild his squad ahead of the new season.
Beale is desperate to add another midfielder and centre-back to his ranks over the next couple weeks but is now days away from ticking the former position off his list in Ecuadorian midfielder Cifuentes.
The 24-year-old has been on the cards as an Ibrox arrival throughout the transfer window, with the Rangers boss desperate to get a deal done during the summer rather than when his LAFC contract expires in December.
His LAFC have stated they would prefer to do a deal now rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the MLS campaign and a Friday 7 July update from Mercado Futbol EC claimed that the deal was “confirmed” and official news was on the way within the next few hours.
However, according to the Daily Record newspaper (8 July, page 55), there is now just one hurdle to complete with a long-awaited switch to Ibrox now subject to the Ecuadorian midfielder being granted a work permit.
The Light Blues fans have been lying in wait for so long to complete this deal, with the Ecuadorian and Rangers having to jump over a few hurdles in order to get closer to a new partnership for the foreseeable future but it now seems as if the work permit hurdle is looking like a formality.
And the Ecuadorian would arguably be the icing on a very pleasing cake for Rangers fans considering what he could offer Beale’s new-look midfield.
Cifuentes is an adept ball carrier, making 7.69 progressive passes per 90 (91st percentile) and 2.47 progressive carries per 90 (91st percentile) [FBRef]. His goalscoring for a central midfielder is also impressive, with 0.16 goals per 90 (90th percentile) showing him to be a dangerous attacking presence within the LA midfield.
Beale certainly doesn’t possess a player capable of progressing the ball through ball-carrying other than Nicolas Raskin or someone to score goals despite his middle-third role but Cifuentes provides those unique characteristics in abundance – ones which could well mean Rangers are well prepared to not only challenge Celtic but topple them, and the 24-year-old could well form some impressive partnerships with the likes of Raskin, Dowell and also Todd Cantwell.
With Rangers now bolstering an impressive and lighting new attacking weaponry, following the additions of Dessers, Lammers and Sima to go along with Fashion Sakala, Beale now possesses a side capable of challenging on all fronts this coming season.
In other Rangers news, new goalkeeper signing calls new role his ‘sole focus’.