With a £1.2 million jewel whose value has increased since joining, Rangers struck gold.
Since moving to Ibrox, one of Rangers’ summer acquisitions has witnessed a sharp increase in value.
Philippe Clement’s Glasgow Rangers managed to keep another clean sheet, but the Ibrox team’s lack of aggression meant they had to settle for a point in their most recent Europa League match.
Up until the Belgian brought on Danilo, Sparta Prague was the stronger team. The Brazilian gave them something they had been lacking throughout the first hour or so of the game and nearly scored with a spectacular effort that smacked the crossbar.
In the end, a point was arguably a fair outcome, and Clement should be pleased with his team’s development since taking over a few weeks ago. Even if the season is still a long way off, success could arrive soon if everyone adopts his tactical philosophies.
But in the meanwhile, he will have to manage a demanding schedule with the team Michael Beale put together prior to his dismissal, and some of the new players haven’t yet really shown off their actual abilities.
Beale signed nine new players for Rangers during the summer
A number of players also left after their contracts ended, including Fashion Sakala and Glen Kamara, as well as Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Allan McGregor.
With Christmas rapidly approaching, it appears that certain players may not be suited for success at the Light Blues, despite the fact that signing so many players probably meant some adjusting in would be necessary.
Sam Lammers was a somewhat odd addition by Beale in the first place, as he had only scored once in his first 18 games, despite having scored six goals overall since the 2020–21 season began.
Another player who appears out of sorts and unfit to be leading the line against the Gers is Cyriel Dessers. Journalist Jonny McFarlane of Rangers Review even called him a “terrible signing” after his horrific performance against Sparta Prague.
He only completed six passes in his brief time on the field against the Czech team, giving up the ball eleven times and failing to attempt any shots. It was hardly a performance worthy of a spot in the starting lineup.
Jose Cifuentes, a player who did join in the summer, has the potential to develop into one of Rangers’ most important players. These two misguided signings may not have much longer to make an impression at the team, especially with the arrival of a new management.
Why Jose Cifuentes could turn into a bargain signing
During the summer, Beale was heavily invested in bringing Cifuentes to Glasgow, and with his contract due to expire at Los Angeles FC in December, the 43-year-old was trying to secure him on a knockdown price before the Premiership season began, otherwise, they would have had to wait until next year.
The midfield player was finally signed by Beale with less than a month remaining in the summer transfer window. He only cost £1.2 million, which might work out to be a great value considering what he had accomplished in the Major League Soccer.
Cifuentes assisted LAFC in winning the MLS championship in the 2022 campaign. In 36 games during the regular season, he contributed 13 goals (seven goals and six assists), created 11 great opportunities, and averaged 1.3 crucial passes per game.
Cifuentes’ value has soared since arriving at Rangers
Football Transfers reports that Cifuentes’ current valuation is €3.7m (£3.2m), which is a fantastic 167% gain from his August signing. Should he be able to secure consistent playing time under Clement, this valuation might jump even higher.
Due to an injury sustained while playing for Ecuador on international service, the 5’8″ machine has missed the previous several games and has yet to play for the Belgian.
The 24-year-old might start in the middle of the midfield if he regains full fitness so the new head coach can see his skills in action.
Cifuentes could still improve after an underwhelming start
For the Ibrox team, the former LAFC midfielder has made ten starts, but he has only provided one assist so far. Naturally, acclimating to a new environment and lifestyle on the other side of the Atlantic will take time, and based on his statistics, it appears he benefited little from Beale’s tactical method.
With two wide players providing the width and midfield players bursting through the middle to provide attacking support, Clement has already established a style of play that he expects his players to deliver during games. Cifuentes could only benefit from this kind of stability, especially given his lackluster first season at the club.
Described as “very dynamic” by LAFC assistant manager Marc Dos Santos, he is currently in the top ten for key passes per game (0.8) and 16th for successful dribbles per game (0.3) among the Ibrox squad in the league. However, he has not been able to improve upon his two previous excellent seasons in the United States.
As the manager, Clement, has won four league titles in his career, he appears to have a clear tactical philosophy that might turn the team into winners. With time, the midfielder could adjust to Scottish football and start to impose his dominance over the midfield area.
Without a doubt, the Gers have struck gold with the former LAFC star, especially in light of the fact that his worth has skyrocketed since his arrival a few months ago and may continue to do so in the event that he plays well upon his injury return.
Although Beale has lavished enormous sums of money on players who have failed to live up to expectations at Rangers, such as Lammers and Dessers, spending just £1.2 million to entice Cifuentes to Scotland rather than wait a few more months could pay out for the team in the long run.
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