Rangers transfer update: Ibrox exits expected as Philippe Clement wants another signing on top of Jefte and Oscar Cortes
Rangers are planning to bring in a fifth January transfer window arrival after they wrap up deals for Jefte and Oscar Cortes, according to Derek Clark.
The Rangers Review journalist reported via Twitter on 28 January that with the pair of young South Americans likely on their way in the Light Blues still hope to land a further signing before the deadline.
That is expected to lead to corresponding moves towards the Ibrox exits to also get pushed through, which may or may not include Jose Cifuentes.
Clarke wrote: “Told Rangers hopeful of bringing in one more after Jefte and Cortes. Expect departures although hearing Cifuentes not too keen on move to Turkey.”
Working around the clock
Virtually every Rangers supporter will be hoping that the final deal proves to be the striker which appeared the greatest need heading into the window.
Fabio Silva’s arrival on loan from Wolves, and Cyriel Dessers tentatively improved form, has helped overcome injuries to Danilo and Kemar Roofe, although the Portuguese youngster isn’t a number nine.
But with Sam Lammers having left on loan, albeit having not been contributing extensively in Glasgow anyway, and now Abdallah Sima ruled out long-term as well, there are few clear goal threats in the side who would be expected to score regularly.
Dessers’ numbers aren’t bad but he is still far from clinical enough, and otherwise it is back to James Tavernier as the most likely to be contributing double-figures.
Perhaps 20-year-old winger Cortes can replace Sima’s goals off the left, but at his age it would be a big ask after just four games in Europe, so an out-and-out goalscorer still looks to be lacking.
If Clement and Nils Koppen can round off the window by landing a centre-forward on top of the two signings already confirmed and two more expected then they will have probably done about as much as could be hoped for midseason.
But with three more trophies potentially winnable they will need to have been more successful at identifying the right targets than Michael Beale was in the summer to add to the League Cup.
Space will have to be made so underachievers leaving makes sense all round, but despite Cifuentes reportedly being on the brink of an exit it looks like that one might be easier said than done after all.
In other Rangers news, John Bennett has backed up his words with “huge” money now being spent at Ibrox before the deadline.
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