Rangers finally secure required characteristic for Philippe Clement in with confirmed transfer
Jefte’s arrival as the first Rangers transfer of the summer is what the club needs as he has the “physicality” that Philippe Clement wants, says Derek Ferguson.
The ex-Ibrox midfielder hopes the 20-year-old has arrived to be the new starter at left-back, with Borna Barisic’s exit now confirmed by the club (1 June) as his contract expires and expected to head to Turkey, and first-choice Ridvan Yilmaz plagued by injury absences.
Rangers announced Jefte’s arrival on 24 May, having been forced to complete a verbal agreement during the January transfer window [Fabrizio Romano, 1 February] after difficulties with APOEL where he spent the season on loan from Fluminense.
He exclusively told Ibrox News: “I hope so. Obviously they’ve been trailing him for a bit as somebody they want in.
“[He has] a good physicality about him, a guy that is a ball-carrier, can get you up the park, and that’s what we need. Also a guy that’s going to play a certain number of games.
“You look at Ridvan, at times this season he’s come in and done pretty well. I wouldn’t go overboard about Yilmaz, I think he’s been decent, but he’s injured far too many times, he doesn’t seem to be able to play a whole 90 minutes at times.
“I think the manager is looking for a different type. I touched on the physicality, Ridvan is decent going forwards but first and foremost he’s a defender.
“I think this boy can defend and can get forward but I think he’s six foot-plus so there’s that physicality about him and that’s what the manager’s looking for.”
Borna Barisic leaves Rangers after Jefte arrival with Ridvan Yilmaz status unclear
Disruption at left-back was not the only reason Rangers threw away the shot at a treble late in the season, and there was no shortage of injuries elsewhere.
But had Clement been able to bring in Jefte during January perhaps Yilmaz’s injury at the crucial time wouldn’t have had such an impact, with Dujon Sterling not then forced to fill in at full-back instead of midfield and so on.
The manager will hope the Brazilian’s arrival is the start of a transformative summer transfer window as he looks to succeed where Michael Beale failed a year ago.
In other Rangers news, concern at the confirmed departure of a Light Blues player has seen his return mooted on a special deal already.
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