Dan Carter

Tue 25 July 2023 7:37, UK

Rangers are set to finalise a move for LAFC and Ecuador international Jose Cifuentes immediately according to the Athletic’s Tom Bogert.

The 24-year-old central midfielder had reached a pre-contract agreement to join Michael Beale’s ranks in January, but the Gers have instead decided to pay a fee to sign him this summer.

The Ecuadorian won the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield with LAFC where he appeared in all but one league game, scoring seven times and six assists last term and is highly thought of in the MLS. Internationally, Cifuentes was part of Ecuador’s World Cup squad at the Qatar 2022 tournament and featured in the South American side’s bronze medal winning run at the 2019 U-20 World Cup.

Discussing the transfer, Bogert wrote: “Rangers is finalizing a deal to sign Ecuador international midfielder Jose Cifuentes from LAFC, sources with direct knowledge of the deal tell The Athletic.

“Cifuentes’ contract is up this winter and agreed to a pre-contract agreement with the Scottish club in January, but Rangers will pay a fee to sign him immediately. He is a target the club have been intent on bringing in this summer.”

Statement of intent

There will have been some around Ibrox that would’ve thought the entirety of Rangers transfer work in the last few weeks had been directed at bringing Feyenood forward Danilo through the door, such had been the media attention served to the story, but on top of that, they’ve been working elsewhere.

Although Glasgow was always going to be the next destination of the Ecuadorian midfielder, the fact that the Gers have been willing to pay a fee to ensure he’s inside Ibrox six months earlier shows what Beale’s aim is this season.

There is no ambition from the blue side of Glasgow to be finishing second behind their Old Firm Rivals once more this season, they genuinely believe that if they do the right business in this window, they are capable of overthrowing Celtic once more.

To do that they need as good a side as possible for their season opener against Kilmarnock to ensure they don’t give Brendan Rodgers’ side a head start. Cifuentes makes them a better side and his impressive standing in the MLS, although often viewed as a weak division, speaks volumes.

With reports also suggesting the likes of Glen Kamara could yet depart Ibrox, midfield reinforcements are a must ahead of a busy campaign and picking up a full international who travelled to the last World Cup for what will likely be a nominal fee is excellent business.

In other Rangers news, the Gers are hopeful that Danilo will be jetting to Ibrox immediately as they amp up their transfer business