Anthony Onifade

Mon 10 July 2023 7:10, UK

Rangers reportedly face a waiting game to complete the signing of Los Angeles midfielder Jose Cifuentes, according to the Daily Record.

The 24-year-old has been on the cards as an Ibrox arrival throughout the transfer window, with Michael Beale desperate to get a deal done during the summer rather than when his LAFC contract expires in December.

In a new twist throughout talks, Daily Record newspaper (10 July, page 48 & back page) now reports that Cifuentes’ move has been put on hold and Rangers do not expect to shake hands with the MLS side for another couple of weeks.

The newspaper last week reported that there was just one hurdle to complete with a long-awaited switch to Ibrox now subject to the Ecuadorian midfielder being granted a work permit.

And now, it is believed that the finer points of the £1m package required to land Cifuentes’ signature have yet to be thrashed out.

Setback

It all seemed like Rangers were impressively set to complete their seventh signing of the summer in Cifuentes a few days ago, with Beale closer to getting his top midfield target.

Now that dream has suffered a major setback with the finer points of the deal yet to be thrashed out after talks. This really isn’t good news for Beale who was targeting getting many of his signings before pre-season.

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 like a yet another stumbling block has emerged.

If Rangers are expected to wait two weeks to get the deal done, then so be it, as long as they complete the signing but there will now be concerns about Cifuentes making a swift impact at Ibrox with the Ecuadorian potentially not having the necessary time to settle in at Ibrox before the season kicks in a month’s time.

In other Rangers news, new goalkeeper signing calls new role his ‘sole focus’.