Rangers transfer news: Oscar Cortes permanent conditions emerge ahead of January window Ibrox move
Negotiations between Rangers and Lens have been ongoing for over a week ahead of Oscar Cortes’ imminent move to Ibrox, according to Pipe Sierra.
The W Radio Colombia journalist reported via Twitter on 28 January that the loan switch this month will come with a permanent option that is set to be dependent on several conditions being met.
The 20-year-old is in line to follow Fabio Silva and Mohamed Diomande in at Rangers this month, with Jefte also believed to be on the way.
In four first-team appearances for Lens since his summer move from Millonarios the 20-year-old has scored one Ligue 1 goal and assisted another, while scoring three and assisting one more in six reserve games.
Cortes is reportedly already on his way to Ibrox to conclude the deal before the deadline.
Moving on
If Rangers have been in talks to land Cortes for more than a week already that would tie up with the timeframe for Abdallah Sima’s absence from Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations squad for the 3-1 win over Cameroon on 19 January.
The Brighton-loanee’s absence is a major blow to Philippe Clement’s squad on top of the additions the Belgian needed to make this month.
But it appears the club have reacted quickly to line up a replacement, although he is clearly going to be raw at his age and with only a few games under his belt since leaving Colombia.
The last attacker at Ibrox from the South American nation, Alfredo Morelos, ended up having a major impact on the club, notwithstanding his latter fortunes and eventual exit in the summer.
If Cortes could follow in the footsteps of his compatriot, who arrived at Ibrox as a 20-year-old back in 2017 himself [BBC Sport] before scoring 269 goals for the club, then this move could be a crucial one.
It sounds like a permanent deal will need him to play a reasonably significant part in the rest of the campaign, and the chances are it won’t be a cheap move after joining Lens just a few months ago, but if he fulfils whatever criteria is required to put a long-term stay at Rangers on the table it may be worth the investment.
In other Rangers news, John Bennett has made good on his claim as “huge” cash is spent for Clement.
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