Rangers transfer news: Oscar Cortes 5-year contract update with Ibrox medical set to be completed
Oscar Cortes is in Glasgow and is set to complete his Rangers medical ahead of joining on a loan-to-buy deal, according to Pipe Sierra.
The Win Sports TV journalist reported on 31 January that the Colombian will initially sign his contract up until June, with the potential permanent move set to see him secured on a long-term deal of up to five years.
Cortes, 20, is set to become the third January arrival at Ibrox after Fabio Silva and Mohamed Diomande, and is due to help fill the gap left behind by Abdallah Sima’s injury.
Sierra wrote: “Óscar Cortés is already in Glasgow finishing medical exams to sign his contract (until June) with Rangers. He will arrive on loan from Lens and will have a purchase option.
“If the Scots exercise it, they will sign him a 4-5 year contract.”
Nick of time
How much of an impact the youngster can have over the months of his loan deal will clearly determine whether he ends up on the long-term permanent deal at the end.
It could also go a long way to deciding to destination of the SPFL title and the overall success of the second half of campaign at Rangers.
Sima’s absence is a major blow but Philippe Clement has apparently deemed Cortes the ideal man to help in attack following the injury to the Senegalese international.
Late business in both directions looks to have been bunched up into the final days before the deadline, and fans would no doubt feel much happier if there was a development on a new striker.
Other long-term injury problems with Danilo and Kemar Roofe have left Cyriel Dessers as the only available number nine, and the much-anticipated run at Lawrence Shankland has gone very quiet.
Clement looks to be on the brink of receiving a boost to his attacking options in the form of Cortes in from Ligue 1 on top of Silva from Wolves, but numbers still look light as things stand.
In other Rangers news, a move at Celtic has helped force the Light Blues to weigh up an unexpected last-gasp exit possibility.
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