Rangers transfer news: Jose Cifuentes decision made as £2m Rizespor news emerges
Rangers midfielder Jose Cifuentes is to join Turkish side Rizespor on an initial loan basis with the right to buy, according to Sky Sports.
The British outlet shared the update on its live transfer blog on Saturday (27 January), with the deal worth around £2million if made permanent.
Cifuentes has also been linked with clubs from elsewhere in Europe and South America, but a deal is now in place with Rizespor.
Good business
Plenty was expected from Cifuentes upon his arrival from Los Angeles FC last summer, but it has not quite gone to plan for the Ecuador international.
Cifuentes has started just six league games this season and has not featured at all under Philippe Clement since the 3-2 win over Real Betis in mid-December.
Keeping the 24-year-old at the club merely as a back-up option just does not make any sense, especially now that Mohamed Diomande has been brought in.
The Gers have now managed to get Cifuentes’ wages off their books until the end of the campaign, while a £2m payment from Rizespor – should that be the true amount – would also earn the club a profit.
That is quite the turnaround when you consider how little impact the Ecuadorian has had in the grand scheme of things.
Rangers fans will wish Cifuentes all the best, but it is a massive shame he has not lived up to the hype that surrounded him following his switch from MLS.
In other Rangers news, a BBC Sport pundit has suggested the Gers should follow Celtic’s lead following an announcement made this week.
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