The Rangers rebuild is continuing apace and the latest name on the agenda is highly-rated Ecuadorian midfielder Jose Cifuentes.
The 24–year-old is currently plying his trade for Los Angeles FC in MLS, is on the brink of signing a long-term deal at Ibrox. It's not a done deal yet but he is on the verge of Ibrox. Michael Beale's team stand at the front of the queue and ready to strike for one of their key summer targets.
Cifuentes previously said it is his "wish" to play in Europe and "something he dreamed of as a child," and with co-president John Thorrington on record as saying he doesn't want him to run down his deal, it makes sense for them to sell now with his contract due to expire in December. But it begs the question: what are Rangers getting if they do land him?
Record Sport takes a closer look.
Who is Jose Cifuentes?
The latest name on Rangers' reported radar hails from Ecuador and comes with a strong background of football in both North and South America. He came through the ranks in his homeland, with his big breakthrough coming at CD America de Quito. It was there he earned his first international caps and eventually a £2.5m move to MLS, where he quickly made a splash.
He's now careering towards the 100-game mark for LAFC and has been a mainstay since arriving at the relatively new franchise. They're one of the top teams in the MLS' Western Conference with Cifuentes a key man in their charge to the title last year, winning their regional division, the playoff, and eventually the MLS Cup - the soccer equivalent of the Superbowl in the US.
Cifuentes has been a mainstay of the team this season, starring alongside Malik Tillman's older brother Timothy - a connection that is intriguing.
He's ambitious, saying before his move to MLS that he wanted to sign for either Manchester City or (look away now, Rangers fans)... Celtic. "My aim is to play in Europe. I don't know which club I will sign for yet - either Manchester City or Celtic," he said back in 2019.
"I deserve my opportunity to play in Europe, it's where I have to be. And my mentality is that I am going to be in Europe for a long time."
He says he's been learning English and back then said it was his ultimate dream to play for his country at the Qatar World Cup...a dream he went on to realise in 2022 with appearances against the hosts and Senegal in an ultimately unsuccessful group stage.
What kind of player is he?
An all-round central midfielder, Cifuentes does a bit of everything. But of the current Rangers midfield, he's closest in profile to the one of the men getting fans very excited - Nicolas Raskin.
He's slightly less aggressive and slightly more creative than the Belgian but in terms of ball retention and yards off the ball, he's a similar type of player. He finds the mark with roughly 83 per cent of his passes, wins the same amount of his duels but takes off on dribbles more often (3.69 per 90 vs 2.81), with roughly the same success rate.
That number would likely come down in Scotland where there is less of the ball but it speaks to his natural game - getting on the ball, carrying it, and making things happen.
At 5ft8', he's not the tallest but is springy and can hold his own in the air, winning 44 per cent of his aerial duels so far this season. For context, John Lundstram is four inches taller and generally wins 48 per cent of his.
What can Rangers fans expect
Cifuentes isn't likely to rack up the goals and assists like Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman but he provides a creative option deeper on the pitch. Breaking the lines from deep is something Rangers have struggled with and something Beale has already attempted to address in signing Raskin and Cifuentes would be another tool in that arsenal.
His proficiency in possession of the ball, rarely giving it away and usually finding his mark, will also help in Europe and in games against Celtic when Rangers are under more pressure than in most of their league games. All that said, he does chip in with goals and assists; he's managed a not-to-be-snuffed at 32 goal-involvements in 109 games for LAFC (14G 18A) which is a good deal more than any of Rangers' current central midfielders post up.
Marry all that with his combative style off the ball and his relative strength and it's easy to see why he is being lined up as an option.
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