Rangers must now step on accelerator to seal last-gasp Jefte transfer after fresh Ibrox twist
Rangers must step their foot on the accelerator to seal Jefte’s last-gasp signing at Ibrox after a fresh twist emerged.
Reporting on their website on 28 January, Daily Record shared that APOEL want a similar fee to what Rangers have agreed to pay Fluminense in order to release Jefte from his loan.
The Light Blues have already “hammered out terms” on a £400,000 deal with the Brazilian club to sign their young left-back, with an agreement also reached with the player himself on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Brazilian news outlet Globo shared (26 January) that Rangers and Fluminese parties are continuing talks and are moving well towards a “definitive agreement” which has not yet been signed.
But sources in Cyprus have reportedly said that APOEL, where the “hotly-rated” 20-year-old has been on loan this term as his parent club looked to generate transfer interest, want money like that as well in order to cut his deal short.
That leaves the compensation fee as the only remaining “stumbling block” to the Brazilian joining Philippe Clement’s squad at Ibrox.
Despite this, it is reported that it should not be a difficult obstacle for the Gers to overcome given they have already vowed to support Jefte’s “ambitions to play at the highest level possible”.
And that player stance and this new development means the Gers should certainly push to seal his signature as Clement desperately wants to bolster his ranks at left-back.
It would be extremely frustrating for Clement if everything is ready to go with Fluminense only for the left-back addition he has been after this month to not arrive because his loan club have thrown a spanner into the works.
If there is no break clause in the deal that sent him to Europe in the summer then APOEL are technically entitled to hold onto him, even if it isn’t want Jefte wants.
If that really is the case then Rangers can use the possible sale of Ridvan Yilmaz – should he leave – to break Jefte’s clause and steal his signature but if APOEL remain firm on their stance, then Clement is in a decent position anyway.
Rangers can always go back in for him in the summer window, especially given the fact that they’ve agreed a deal with Fluminese which is unofficial word to the player that they wish to bring him in at Ibrox.
Jefte may be a bit of an unknown quantity but Philippe Clement and transfer chief Nils Koppen won’t be moving for him without some due diligence.
The 20-year-old has been rather impressive at the club scoring three goals from 18 first-team games and looks to be the player Rangers need to not only address the uncertainty at left-back but build towards a sustainable future at Ibrox.
If there’s a real chance to get him in before Thursday’s deadline, then the Light Blues must step on that accelerator.
In other Rangers news, a first-team player is still at Auchenhowie despite the club having accepted a bid for him to leave already.
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