Rangers ready to 'rush through' transfer for Gareth Bale's former teammate

12 June 2023 , 17:43

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Jose Cifuentes could be set to depart LAFC, with Rangers potentially among the suitors for the influential Ecuadorian midfielder. (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

A former teammate of Gareth Bale at LAFC could be set to depart MLS, with Scottish giants Rangers potentially among the suitors for his signature.

Ecuadorian midfielder Jose Cifuentes has spent the last three years in California, starring alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Carlos Vela in that time and contributing to the club's first ever MLS Cup success last term. However, his time stateside could be coming to a close with his current deal about to enter its final six months, allowing clubs to speak with him about a pre-contract ahead of a free transfer from June 31.

This, of course, leaves the Los Angeles franchise in a precarious situation, meaning that time is of the essence if they have designs on making money back on their $3million (£2.4m) investment. With the 24-year-old's future far from certain at LAFC, it appears that Rangers manager Michael Beale is explore a potential deal this summer.

According to the Daily Record, Gers manager Michael Beale is keen to make the 15-time international his fourth signing of the transfer window, with the diminutive midfielder having already agreed terms over a switch to the SPL. A deal for Cifuentes could cost the Glasgow outfit around $1.8m (£1.5m), with the club 'confident' a deal will be concluded in due course.

The MLS star has played 93 times for LAFC since signing back in 2020, notching a respectable 13 goals and 16 assists from midfield and could well prove to be a shrewd purchase, given his success stateside. This season, he has played 20 times and has found the net once, while making four assists.

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As per Football Insider, Cifuentes had also attracted interest from relegated Premier League side Leeds United and Spanish outfit Espanyol, who also dropped out of La Liga last term.

Michael Beale continues to adapt his squad after taking the Rangers job, with another signing potentially incoming. (Ian Tuttle/REX/Shutterstock)

He would join the likes of Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland, all of whom have made the move to Ibrox this summer. In all, he would also be the sixth signing of Beale's reign, following on from January recruits Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin.

Indications also abound that Beale will look to sign Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo, with the Daily Record also reporting that Rangers are close to striking a deal for the left-sided center-back. Championship sides Coventry and West Brom had showed interest in the former England U-19s captain but a move over the border may now be in the offing.

The Englishman continues to rebuild the squad he inherited from Giovanni van Bronckhorst as he looks to overhaul arch-rivals Celtic in the league next season. The former Queen's Park Rangers coach did, of course, serve as assistant to Steven Gerrard as they delivered the club's last title back in 2021.

Tom Beattie