Jefte is currently on loan at APOEL in Cyprus. He was supposed to stay there for until the summer too. According to Cypriot publication Balla, however, the talented, dead-ball specialist has suddenly been left out of the squad for Friday night’s clash with Neo Salamina, with that impending switch to Rangers the reason for his absence.
Rangers agree deal with Fluminense for Jefte
Jefte, an attack-minded full-back, has seven goals or assists in 20 appearances for the Nicosia-based outfit. It remains to be seen whether his arrival – following in the footsteps of Diomande and Fabio Silva – will open the door for Ridvan Yilmaz to depart. Rumours surrounding a return to Turkey are still swirling around the former Besiktas youngster.
Galatasaray, the club most frequently linked with Yilmaz, confirmed this week – via their head coach Okan Buruk – that signing left-back is the ‘priority’ ahead of the final two weeks of the Super Lig transfer window.
Brazilian starlet could replace Ridvan Yilmaz
“I think there’s still a chance he could have a future. If they don’t get a replacement, then I’d find it strange they’d let Ridvan Yilmaz walk out the door,” Ibrox icon Neil McCann told BBC SportScene after the 22-year-old opened the scoring in the 3-0 midweek win at Hibernian.
The seemingly imminent arrival of Jefte, then, should ease McCann’s concerns about Rangers being left dangerously short of options on the flank.
“I think the boy (Yilmaz) is maybe looking for a move because of his lack of use. I think he’s struggled to find consistency and freedom of injury,” McCann adds.
“If the opportunity comes for the boy to go back to Turkey, which is the suggestion with Galatasaray, I think he’ll take it.”
As explained by Fabrizio Romano – who broke the story with journalists in Scotland barely getting a sniff before the Italian tweeted – the deal now hinges on striking an agreement with the Cypriots.
Jefte is an attacking left-back option and a former Brazilian youth international who at 20-years-old will be signed with the intention of developing further at Rangers.
Rangers close in on Jefte
In yet another out-of-the-blue transfer deal, Rangers look to finally be getting a new left-back only its none of the plethora of names which had been linked.
Jefte is not a name which will be too familiar to the Ibrox support but the job of the club’s recruitment team is to unearth gems which can later be sold for profit.
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The young Brazilian certainty falls into that category and he looks set to join Mohamed Diomande – who was announced this afternoon – at Rangers this January.
Rangers have also added Portuguese attacker Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves for the rest of the season as Nils Koppen continues to get to work on the Rangers squad.
Left-back transfer questions over Ibrox
The question now will be what is to happen with Rangers’ current left-back options, with much speculation around both Borna Barisic and Ridvan Yilmaz.
Barisic is in his sixth season at Ibrox and, after an up-and-down stint at the club, could well be moved on this summer with his contract ticking down. There have been links to Dinamo Zagreb.
Ridvan Yilmaz, who is fast emerging as one of Rangers’ brightest talents, has also been strongly linked with a move to Galatasaray.
It promises to be a busy few days as the window winds down to a close and Rangers close in on a deal for Jefte of Fluminense.
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