Report: Rangers set for £2.5m payout as club says goodbye to beloved star, welcomes fresh talent.
Report: Rangers set for £2.5m payout as club says goodbye to beloved star, welcomes fresh talent.
Over the weekend, we had a sense of déjà vu as stories surfaced indicating that Rangers were on the verge of making their first signing of the summer transfer season. In January, Philippe Clement’s side reached an agreement with Fluminense to sign the highly rated left-back Jefte Vital. The Brazilian youngster, who is on loan at APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus, reportedly delayed training in an attempt to force a move to Ibrox.
However, after APOEL declined to cancel his loan deal midway through the season, depriving Jefte his dream move to Rangers, the 20-year-old returned with his tail between his legs, apologized to his club before re-establishing himself in the starting lineup. Rangers, of course, would be hoping that their four-month chase of Jose Cordoba ends with the Panama international holding a blue scarf aloft on the Ibrox pitch, rather than another grovelling apology.
Rangers in Advanced Jose Cordoba chats. Cordoba, like Jefte briefly in January, was conspicuously absent as Levski Sofia prepared for Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate against Cherno More. The 22-year-old was then left out of the matchday squad, with talks with the Glasgow giants said to be ‘advanced’ after Cordoba traveled to Scotland to see the recent 4-1 triumph against Kilmarnock. Fortunately, there are similarities between the Cordoba problem and the Jefte one end. Unlike APOEL, Levski Sofia does not appear to be in the mood to deprive Cordoba a chance to go up the football ladder.
“There is serious interest in our players,” majority owner Nasko Sirakov stated a few weeks ago. “We may need to sign more than five new ones (to replace those who are leaving).
“I don’t sell cheaply. (But) Jose, if he continues to perform like this, we will lose the moral right to keep him. “There is a strong interest in him. I had a talk with him. I told him to worry about the upcoming (few) games and the Copa America. Leave the rest to the club. Levski Sofia apparently received a £2.5 million Ibrox proposal. According to Bulgarian media, Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise and French powerhouse Lille are also interested. Rangers appear to have jumped ahead of both clubs, putting a £2.5 million proposal.
Tema Sport backs up such accusations, stating that Cordoba has received ‘an offer’ from Ibrox. Furthermore, Levski appears to be already planning to reinvest the potential £2.5 million on their playing roster. A agreement has been reached to bring in Brazilian talent Maicon from Nova Iguazu.
Maicon is another left-sided defender who appears unlikely to be a direct replacement for Cordoba. Maicon, who has previously played at centre-half, is an orthodox left-back by trade, whereas Cordoba makes his career in the midst of a backline. According to Bulgarian rumors, Cordoba’s signing is expected to be confirmed soon. “I’ve heard from folks who say they saw him at the game at Ibrox last week. “He was left out of Levski’s match over the weekend. He was cleared as totally fit because he was in the squad, but the manager chose not to include him.
“Cordoba’s fee is expected to be £3 million. And he’d be the first to arrive permanently throughout the summer.” Rangers host Dundee tonight at Ibrox.
