APOEL president’s radio silence Jefte claims come as Rangers brace for high-profile exit

APOEL president’s radio silence Jefte claims come as Rangers brace for high-profile exit

What a difference it would have made for Rangers and APOEL if Brazilian left-back Jefte had joined the Gers in January. Rangers were thought to be in talks with Jefte about a winter swap amid rumours surrounding Borna Barisic and Ridvan Yilmaz.

When both Rangers’ resident left-backs remained at Ibrox, a deal was stalled due to reports of APOEL’s release clause with Fluminense and an imminent transfer war for the player’s signature. Since then, the 20-year-old Fluminense left-back has won the Cypriot title with the cash-strapped Nicosia club, while Rangers struggled in the Premiership race. The competition to sign the left-back has resumed, and the most recent comments from APOEL Nicosia vice-president Nikos Kougialis indicate that nothing is certain.

Speaking to Cypriot radio station Super Sport FM and translated by Cypriot football podcast This is Mappa Kougialis, it is apparent that APOEL wants Jefte to return next season. However, while APOEL has informed host club Fluminense that they are willing to pay a release clause, Jefte looks to be taking his time making a decision.

With noting signed or sealed as things stand, Kougialis claims that APOEL have yet to receive a response from the Brazilian’s team regarding his future.

What’s more, the APOEL chief has put the ball firmly in the left-back’s court and claims Jefte’s future is very much in Jefte’s hands.

“We have told Fluminense that we want to keep him and are willing to pay the release clause,” said Nikos Kougialis.

“It is up to the player now if he wants to stay. We have contacted him but he hasn’t responded.”
The comments suggest that whilst APOEL are keen on a move for Jefte, the player is yet to make a final decision on his future.

And that is where those transfer links to Rangers come in.

January links to the left-back were indeed legitimate and back then Fabrizio Romano claimed that a summer return for the defender was in the post.
However, since then, the only discussion of Rangers in a Jefte context has been APOEL’s interest, with no further transfer links expected this summer. That is not to say that Rangers aren’t interested, and left-back is an area of the squad that will be strengthened this summer. With Borna Barisic reportedly signing to a pre-contract deal at Trabzonspor, Jefte is the most prominent candidate to replace the Croatian.

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