Stevie Clifford has reacted instantly after news emerged that Rangers have reached an agreement with Aris Thessaloniki for Jose Cifuentes.
The 25-year-old midfielder is set to join the Greek side within the next 24 hours, according to All About Aris [26 July], arriving on a season-long loan with a mandatory £4.2million (€5million) purchase option.
Cifuentes has failed to make the desired impact at Ibrox since making the £1.2million switch from LAFC last summer [Sky Sports], spending the second half of last season on loan at Cruzeiro in Brazil.
Speaking live via The Rangers Review YouTube channel on Friday (26 July), Clifford said: “That’s just ridiculous. Perhaps Nils Koppen is quite good at these things. Quite incredible numbers for him.”
Stevie Clifford buzzing as Jose Cifuentes transfer fee emerges at Rangers
Considering that the Gers signed the Ecuadorian for just over £1million, and his fall from grace since arriving from LAFC, acquiring £4.2million for his exit will come as a surprise to most.
The midfielder has played just 20 times for the Light Blues, joining Cruzeiro on loan for the second half of last season and not really managing to make much of an impact there either.
Cifuentes continues to be involved with the Ecuador national team, travelling with the side for the 2024 Copa America but was an unused substitute in all the games before the team crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-final to Argentina.
There is clearly a talented player somewhere inside, having attracted a lot of attention during his 120 matches in the MLS but, so far, he has been unable to live up to the hype and will not be missed by Rangers fans.
With the loan-to-buy clause only coming into effect next summer, Philippe Clement will be unable to reinvest the funds anytime soon but it could be a major boost in the following summer transfer window.
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