Glasgow Reiki He didn’t have quite the productive transfer window that many expected. After a poor start to the season with several players out of action, it was clear that this was showing Philip Clement It is necessary to move the dead tree, bringing one or two fresh faces.
New CEO Patrick Stewart suggested Some words of encouragement earlier this month when discussing the club’s business, saying: “We all work to support the club, it’s not the club that supports the manager, it’s really everyone who supports the club to make sure we sign players, the club or for the long-term benefit of the club.”
Despite these comments, the Light Blues have only made one signing so far. Rafael Fernandez joined the Ibrox for six months A loan deal from Lille with an option to buy will be included in the deal.
With the defensive injury crisis at the club just now, it was a smart move to bring in another defender. If Fernandez impresses, Clement will have the opportunity to make his move permanent.
If not, the youngster returns to his parent club. Just who, however, is Fernandez? And what will he bring to the Rangers between now and the end of the season?
Why Ranger signed Rafael Fernandez
One of Kliment’s main goals as manager is to improve the club’s position in the transfer market. Sure, there’s still the odd seasoned player in the future, but most of his business seems to be focused on signing young talent with plenty of potential.
The likes of Hamza Igaman, Conor Barron, Jephte and Clinton Nsiala all fit the bill and have caught the eye at times with their performances for GERS.
Fernandes is still only 22 and has a bright future in the game, that’s for sure. The Portuguese defender came through CP’s sports academy before leaving to join Aruka in 2022 to further his development.
He Made only 17 performances For the club, he impressed enough to seal a move to Lille last year, but has yet to feature for Ligue 1, especially as he had players like Leni Jorah ahead of him in the pecking order.
In his 11 top-flight appearances for Aruca, Fernandes has shone. He not only did succeed with 90% of his passesBut the defender also averaged 1.1 disposals and lost possession just four times per game. Even won 66% of his total face-offs in his youth, recovering 2.6 goals per match, showing off his talents.
Kai Watson, founder of The Rangers magazine, relaxed praise of the player Before joining Gers, Fernandes said: “He’s very comfortable on the ball, good passing range, quick and strong.
“That’s the type of CB profile we should be going for.”
It will be interesting to see how he develops at Ibrox. Should he make a positive impression, could he see Clement paying the price to bring him to the club permanently?
Rafael Fernandez Market Value
Due to the fact that Fernandez did not play for the senior side during his time at Lille, according to Transfermarkt, his the current market value is 1 million euros (£850k).
Even if he shows his qualities at Ibrox, it may not take long for Lille to part ways with the 22-year-old, especially if they can bring him a profit.
Rangers have another young talent who has been making waves in the first team since joining the Glasgow side last summer.
Jefte is a player who has seen his market value rise and he is currently worth more than Fernandes.
Jephte Rangers Stats
Borna Borysic left the Light Blues after six years at Glasgow last summer, which meant the hunt for a new left-back was on.
Ridvan Yılmaz is expected to be the number one option on the left side of defence, but it was clear that some kind of cover was not required.
Clement moved to bring in a new signing early, with Jephthah announced in June, giving him plenty of time to settle in at Ibrox ahead of the new season.
Among the links to the defender as early as January 2024, Watson waxed lyrical On the Brazilian, saying: “He always wants to drive in the defense of the opposition and is comfortable going outside or cutting inside.
“He’s also not afraid to have a pop in the goal and has a big shot in his arsenal.
“He looks like he can be a creative threat as well as a skill-set.”
He may not have opened his account for the club yet, but going forward, Jephte has been a shining light at times.
|
Jephthah’s Rangers stats this season |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Metric |
Prime Minister |
League of Europe |
|
Accurate passes per game |
42 |
27.8 |
|
Great chances created |
2 |
0 |
|
Transmission |
2 |
0 |
|
Key passes per game |
1 |
0.7 |
|
Ground fights won per game |
4 |
4.8 |
Indeed, the prime minister has young men created two great chancesand averaged one key pass per game, succeeding with 1.2 dribbles per match, linking up well with those in more advanced positions.
Defensively, he has some work to do. He lost possession an average of 14.6 times in the top flight, while committing 1.1 fouls per game and being cleared 0.5 times per match.
These stats may well improve as he ages and gains experience in the game. In Jefte, Rangers have someone who could potentially be sold for a hefty transfer fee somewhere down the line, giving the club a significant profit in the process.
If he continues to improve, there is interest from the other side.
Jefte’s market value at Rangers
According to Transfermarkt, the left-back is now Currently valued at 2.5 million euros (£2.1m), which is an increase of over £1m since he joined Gers last summer.
This proves that he is on the right track and the more he plays the better he will get and the more valuable he will be at the club.
Jefte also costs a lot more than Fernandes, but that should be incentive enough for the centre-back to establish himself at the club, knowing that if he shines, his value will only increase over the next few months.
Bound
Rangers have already hit the jackpot with Jefte due to his performances and rising market value, and they will be hoping the same can be said for Fernandez in 6-12 months time.
