MLS club locked in transfer talks with Rangers over Ibrox outcast's future as decision looms
It has been almost three years since the midfielder played his last game for the Ibrox club
Toronto boss Robin Fraser has confirmed the MLS club are in discussions with Rangers about the future of forgotten midfielder Jose Cifuentes, with a decision looming over next step.
The 27-year-old Ecuador international is currently on loan at the Canadian outfit until the end of this month. It marks his third temporary spell away from Ibrox over the course of 18 months.
Cifuentes, who was left out of his national team’s World Cup squad this week, has been nursing a knee injury of late which has curtailed his game time. He hasn’t featured for Toronto since April, but had previously made 10 appearances for the club.
Cifuentes has played just 20 games for Rangers since arriving from fellow MLS side LAFC. After failing to settle in Scotland, he returned to South America with Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro until the end of 2024 before spending 12 months in Greece on loan at Aris Thessaloniki.
With a year remaining on his Rangers contract, Toronto must soon decide whether to take up their undisclosed purchase option. Providing a brief update on the player’s situation, head coach Fraser revealed: “We are in talks with the club, Jose and Rangers about his future.”
Cifuentes joined Rangers during a period of major squad changes under Michael Beale following a long drawn out pursuit of his signature. Costing £1.2m, his capture led the former Sunderland boss to claim he would take the club to the “next level”.
Upon signing for the Govan giants, Cifuentes stated the project sold to him by Beale matched his ambitions. He said: “When I spoke to him, he told me about the project and what he wants here for the club. he told me what he wants me here for so that’s why I joined because I love his project and his vision for football.”
Cifuentes’ last appearance for the club came in December 2023 when he appeared as a substitute in a 3-2 Europa league win over Real Betis in Spain.
Cifuentes will want future resolved ASAP
Unable to nail down a regular starting spot, he quickly fell down the pecking order when Beale was sacked and replaced by Philippe Clement. He returned to Glasgow briefly last summer following two separate loan moves, but failed to convince head coach Russell Martin that he was worthy of more minutes.
Agreeing a speedy summer exit would be best for both parties.
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