Jose Cifuentes to Rangers transfer faces final hurdle as Ibrox club hold talks to buy out Los Angeles contract

Rangers boss Michael Beale is close to sealing a deal for Ecuadorian international Jose Cifuentes.

The Los Angeles midfielder has been a long-term target for the Light Blues and was also linked with Celtic four years ago. The 24-year-old is out-of-contract with the Major League Soccer side and Rangers are looking to do a deal to buy out the remaining six months of his contract. Los Angeles have previously stated they would rather sell Cifuentes now than lose him for nothing.

Beale is now in pole position despite other European interest from French side Toulouse and English side Leeds United have also been linked previously. Rangers have been interested in the 13 times-capped Ecuadorian for some time and that perseverance looks like sealing a deal. Former sporting director Ross Wilson first put Cifuentes on the Ibrox radar and Beale has made him a priority target.

Cifuentes has been at Los Angeles since 2020 when he arrived from Universidad Catolica but has never hidden his desire to play in Europe. It has been a busy few weeks for Beale as his Rangers rebuild is already well under way. He has deals in place to sign Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell and Chelsea defender Dujon Sterling. Beale is also close to a deal to sign Manchester United keeper Jack Butland and has one or two other options on-going.

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