Rangers trail Leeds Utd in race for MLS midfielder as contact is made despite transfer preference

Leeds United face competition from Rangers for the signing of Jose Cifuentes when he leaves MLS side LAFC, according to a report.

Cifuentes will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the calendar year. The prospect of snapping him up without a transfer fee would be an ideal way for some of his suitors to start 2024.

Some of those admirers are already beginning work on a deal for the midfielder. Back in August, Leeds were listed as one of his potential takers.

Recently, they have learned they will face competition for Cifuentes from Rangers. According to Football Insider, the Scottish Premiership side have been in contact for the Ecuador international.

Rangers are said to have spoken to Cifuentes directly, as well as to his representatives. However, they are concerned they might not be able to compete financially for the deal.

Besides, the report claims that Cifuentes would prefer to join a Premier League club. Therefore, Leeds may have the advantage in the race to sign him – as long as they can avoid relegation.

As things stand, Leeds are two points above the relegation zone, with seven games remaining. Retaining Premier League status will be essential for them to attract the kind of players they want to Elland Road.

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Should they secure survival, a move for Cifuentes could be on the horizon. However, another club making an offer for him, according to the report, could be Espanyol.

Similarly, they are currently fighting for survival in La Liga. In fact, they occupy one of the relegation places at the time of writing. They have nine games remaining to climb out of the bottom three.

Rangers, meanwhile, are second in the Scottish Premiership. They may have the lure of some kind of involvement in a UEFA competition, but the domestic league itself may be less appealing to Cifuentes, as would the financial terms of a contract in Glasgow.

After all, Rangers want to bring in multiple new players after this season. Consequently, they may need to spread out the funds for their wage bill. They are not yet out of the picture for Cifuentes, though, in case things change.

Leeds might have Prem competition for Jose Cifuentes

The report hints that some other clubs south of the border, along with Leeds, might be keen on the 24-year-old. However, it isn’t yet clear who those rival Premier League suitors might be. Previous reports have tipped Brighton and Newcastle to target Cifuentes, perhaps.

In terms of Leeds’ need for a new midfielder, they will see Adam Forshaw reach the end of his contract this summer. By the same time, Weston McKennie will have completed his loan spell from Juventus, with his long-term future remaining unclear.

Therefore, one way or another, Leeds might need more competition for the likes of Marc Roca and the in-demand Tyler Adams.

Cifuentes has played nine times in all competitions for LAFC since their season began in March. His overall record for the club comprises of 104 appearances, 14 goals and 17 assists.

The central midfielder has earned 15 caps at international level for Ecuador, for whom he made his senior debut in September 2019.

Prior to joining LAFC in January 2020, Cifuentes spent time developing in his native country with Universidad Catolica and America de Quito.

Hence, he could be ready to come to Europe for the first time in his career. The precise destination remains to be seen, though.