Rangers transfer news: Jose Cifuentes update on imminent January window Ibrox exit – BBC Sport
Jose Cifuentes is now “poised to complete” a move away from Rangers in the January transfer window, according to BBC Sport.
The outlet report via their website on 28 January that the Light Blues midfielder is now “expected to travel to the Black Sea city of Rize” to finish his loan-to-buy switch to Rizespor.
The deal for the 24-year-old will contain a £2million option to buy, despite Rangers having hoped to make it an obligation to make the move permanent [Heart & Hand, 27 January].
There had been some speculation that the Ecuadorian wasn’t interested in a move to the Turkish Super Lig according to Sports Digitale’s Ertan Süzgün (28 January), but it now appears his move to the country is imminent.
Unhappy stopover
There had actually been some early signs that Cifuentes could be a very positive addition to the Rangers midfield once the drawn-out sage over his signing from LAFC came to an end.
But they quickly dried up to the point where amid 20 Gers appearances, of which only nine have been in the SPFL, he has struggled to adapt and Philippe Clement has largely left him out of the squad of late.
There have been injury issues as well, as comes as standard for any Rangers player currently, and an untimely suspension for the Viaplay Cup final in the midst of a crisis at the position.
Perhaps Cifuentes is able to find form in Turkey and returns to Ibrox to become the player he was supposed to be when Michael Beale pursued him for months last year.
But it would appear that the club would rather everyone chalks the move up as a mistake and they can bank a profit on the £1.2m spent in the summer [Sky Sports, 4 August].
If Rangers do make some money on the transaction it would be some silver lining to what has not proven to be a fruitful move on the pitch.
In other Rangers news, John Bennett is backing up his talk as the club now splash “huge” January transfer window cash.
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