Clement's new lieutenant 'named', Jefte can reach Chelsea and Dessers bid pondered - Rangers transfer state of play

Philippe Clement is in no doubt that Jefte can go onto play at Chelsea's level - but insists the full back's immediate future is best served at Ibrox.

The Brazilian has emerged as a shock target for the Premier League club despite only joining the Gers from Fluminense for £700,000 last summer. The Blues have yet to make official contact with Rangers but Jefte's agents have informed the club that their client is interesting several teams down south and in Europe. Ibrox transfer chiefs are keen to re-establish the club's failing player transfer model and would be entertain the prospect of selling Jefte if the price is right. But boss Clement wants the 21-year-old so stick around for now.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Union Saint-Gilloise, Clement was asked if the defender has a higher ceiling than Rangers, to which he replied: "I'm 100 per cent sure yes. I know those kinds of clubs as I have had some players going there or to similar clubs.

"If he makes a normal evolution from what he has been doing now, I think one day he will be ready for that. But for the moment it's too early and I think this is a really good place for him to develop so he's totally not busy with all these rumours. That’s not something new. I had the same in Genk. Trossard could have left also earlier in Genk, to go to the Premier League.

“We had talks with him about that, about staying. Also other players, like Sander Berge. So it's important to do the right step at the right moment. Because you see also a lot of players making a step higher and not being ready, and they're losing themselves because they're not playing afterward, because they were not ready.

“So it was the same in Bruges with players. It was the same in