£1.2m Rangers flop may never be seen in a Gers shirt again

£1.2m Rangers flop may never be seen in a Gers shirt again

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Glasgow Rangers’ appointment of Philippe Clement in mid-October has spared them from another mediocre season.

Following a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen, the Englishman was fired, and Clement took over as manager barely two weeks later, and the team has not looked back since.

His achievement is even more remarkable given that he has had to effectively use the same collection of players as Beale, but the 49-year-old manager has added a steeliness to them that may give them an advantage over Celtic.

His involvement during the January transfer window is another reason why he could lead the Gers to many more trophies, since he signed three players who have all made big contributions thus far.
Who Rangers signed over the winter

With the squad in need of reinforcements, Clement recruited Fabio Silva (loan), Oscar Cortes (loan with option to buy), and Mohamed Diomande (loan with obligation to buy), all of whom have been inspired signings.

The trio has already scored six goals for the club, and Diomande appears to be bound for success, with the Light Blues certain to profit handsomely in the future years.

While incomings were required, Clement was also interested in downsizing the roster, which included transferring a few players who were regarded surplus to needs.

Sam Lammers, who has only scored twice since joining Atalanta last summer, was loaned to FC Utrecht, as was expected after the club’s poor six-month run.

Moving on to Jose Cifuentes was probably surprising, especially given that he had not had much opportunity to convince either Beale or Clement.

Why Jose Cifuentes went out on loan

After signing Diomande and seeing Nico Raskin, Ryan Jack, and Tom Lawrence return from injuries, it was unavoidable that someone would have to leave to avoid such a cramped and competitive situation.

Moving on to Jose Cifuentes was undoubtedly surprising, especially since he hadn’t had much time to persuade either Beale or Clement.

Why did Jose Cifuentes go on loan?

After signing Diomande and watching Nico Raskin, Ryan Jack, and Tom Lawrence recover from injuries, it was obvious that someone would have to depart to avoid such a cramped and competitive environment.

Everything has now been signed and finalized, and it appears that the Ibrox fans will see the midfielder for the final time as he prepares to launch his career in Brazil.

How Jose Cifuentes performed before the Rangers.

The 24-year-old had spent the previous three years with MLS club Los Angeles FC, playing over 100 games and eventually bringing them to victory in the 2022 season, when the club won the title, with Cifuentes playing a major role throughout.

In 36 MLS matches in 2022, the midfielder scored seven goals and assisted six times, helping the franchise win the title.

These stats placed him third in the league’s entire roster, while he also ranked second in major chances created (11), fourth in critical passes per game (1.3), and third in successful dribbles per game (1.5), indicating that he shown lots of attacking verve throughout the season.

These performances undoubtedly drew Beale’s attention, and signing a player of Cifuentes’ caliber should have considerably improved the club’s midfield options.

Unfortunately, despite the South American’s success in the United States, it has not gone as planned, and it is yet another example of the Gers spending money on a player without obtaining much in return.

Jose Cifuentes joined Rangers for a reduced fee of £1.2 million during the summer transfer window, as his contract with LAFC expired in December 2023. However, under Beale, the Ecuadorian only made nine starts as the club failed to qualify for the Champions League and struggled in the Premiership.

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