Rangers reach Deadline Day agreement for 2024 Jefte signing after days of ‘fighting’ – Fabrizio Romano
Rangers have secured a Deadline Day agreement for Jefte to arrive at Ibrox at the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Speaking live on his Kick stream on 1 February the Italian journalist said that after days of “fighting” over a move for the Fluminense defender who is on loan at APOEL in Cyprus they have lined him up for the summer after striking a deal verbally.
The Light Blues were believed to have a permanent transfer agreed with the Brazilian’s parent club earlier in the January window, but his loan side wanted the same money to cut the temporary deal short.
Romano said: (7.58pm): “Jefte, the left-back from Fluminense on loan to APOEL Nicosia, who was really close to joining Rangers now, basically the deal was done.
“Then it collapsed because APOEL Nicosia didn’t want to break the loan and to let the player go.
“So, after three or four days fighting to have this green light what basically happened today is that Rangers have a verbal agreement in place to sign Jefte in the summer transfer window.
“So the Brazilian left-back will probably go to Rangers in the summer when he will return to Fluminense and then be available for a Rangers move. So not happening now but happening in the summer, a very interesting left-back for Rangers.”
Will have to do
Left-back has had a question mark over it at Ibrox for months, with Ridvan Yilmaz in and out of the side and Borna Barisic’s defensive quality often questioned.
The Turkish international has been pursued for a move throughout the current window, and after being close to a Hellas Verona move he has been the subject of bids from Galatasaray.
It will surely be tough to let him go now if the man who was due in to take his place in the squad has been delayed by five months at least.
Barisic’s deal is up in the summer so it may now be that the 20-year-old Jefte takes the spot of the Croatian international since he has been tipped to be on his way sooner or later.
Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen have been looking to overhaul a Rangers squad that was left looking very uneven after Michael Beale’s summer business didn’t work out has planned, and has since been hit by extensive injuries.
Deals have been done in both directions, but it looks like the left-back and the striker that seemed to be two of the top priorities when the market opened will end up having to wait.
In other Rangers news, a first-team exit is almost 100% complete and there is optimism that it will be done before the deadline.
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