Jefte changes his tune on Rangers transfer 'pact' as APOEL chief reveals what star REALLY wants this summer

President Prodromos Petrides has claimed that Jefte WANTS to stay at APOEL next season despite reports of a summer "pact" that would ensure a move to Rangers.

The Brazilian - who is on loan in Cyprus from Fluminense - had been set to arrive at Ibrox in January but APOEL blocked the recall clause as they demanded £500,000 to end the agreement early. With the future of Borna Barisic up in the air as the Croat nears the end of his Ibrox contract, reports had suggested that despite the collapse of the deal that the Scottish Premiership side had a verbal agreement with the Brazilian side to sign the star in summer.

However, Petrides has played down the prospect of a move to Ibrox at the end of the campaign - insisting that the left-back has had a change of heart and wants to make his move to APOEL permanent. This is despite Jefte going AWOL in January in a bid to force a move to Govan - which sparked a sanction from the club.

Asked about a potential permanent transfer Cypriot radio station Super Sport FM with a move to Rangers heavily linked, Petrides said: "No, it's not forbidden. Just with the financial tightness that we have now - look, we're doing everything we can to secure a deal to stay.

"He's already sold, let me put it this way. We have suggestions (for Fluminese). We want to let him stay, we want to buy him."