Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin won’t be happy with the way in which his staff have began the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season.
The Gentle Blues did not win each of their opening matches within the division, drawing 1-1 with Motherwell on the opening day earlier than drawing 1-1 with Dundee at Ibrox.
There’s nonetheless loads of time left in the summertime switch window for the Scottish giants to do extra work to make sure that their staff is able to compete for trophies this season, although.
While there will likely be a concentrate on incoming additions to excite the supporters and enhance the present beginning line-up, a brand new report means that Martin might be shedding a participant from his enjoying squad.
In line with Brazilian journalists Andre Hernan and Bruno Andrade, Palmeiras are within the technique of finalising a deal to signal Jefte from the Gentle Blues this summer season, in what will likely be a everlasting transfer for the defender.
After only one yr at Ibrox after transferring from Fluminense, the 21-year-old expertise seems to be on his method out of Glasgow to return to his house nation.
Why promoting Jefte will likely be a blow for Rangers
Shedding the left-footed ace will likely be a blow to Rangers within the short-term as a result of he’s the one senior left-footed left-back who has been utilised by Martin to date this season.
Ridvan Yilmaz has not made a single matchday squad within the 2025/26 marketing campaign, and it was not too long ago reported that he has reached an settlement with Besiktas over a return to Turkey. Which means that Jefte’s proposed transfer to Palmeiras would go away Martin with no left-footed left-back in his aspect, which might end in Max Aarons going again to that place, a job wherein he seemed extremely uncomfortable towards Panathinaikos and Motherwell.
While Jefte is just not the completed article or the proper left-back for Rangers, the 21-year-old gem does supply steadiness to the staff as a naturally left-footed participant in that place, which can’t be stated for the right-footed Aarons.
24/25 Premiership | Jefte |
|---|---|
Begins | 30 |
Objectives | 1 |
Assists | 4 |
Tackles + interceptions per sport | 3.3 |
Dribbled previous | 17x |
Floor duel success charge | 52% |
Aerial duel success charge | 57% |
Stats by way of Sofascore | |
As you may see within the desk above, the Brazilian defender didn’t have a very terrible first season at Ibrox within the Premiership, beginning 30 of their 38 video games and profitable the vast majority of his bodily duels on the deck and within the air.
Nonetheless, Jefte had points that aren’t straightforward to trace on a stats sheet. Too typically, the full-back wouldn’t pay attention to the participant over his shoulder and would get caught sleeping on the again put up for targets.
The Palmeiras goal additionally didn’t have his greatest sport towards Dundee within the Premiership final weekend. He solely accomplished considered one of his 5 tried crosses and was tackled in 4 of his 5 tried dribbles, per Sofascore, which reveals that the left-back struggled each technically and together with his decision-making.
Placing all of this collectively, it’s a blow for the Gentle Blues to lose their first-choice left-back within the short-term, nevertheless it additionally gives them with a chance to enhance their staff by swooping for a brand new choice in that space of the pitch.
Rangers and Celtic have been each not too long ago linked with an curiosity in Monaco full-back Kassoum Ouattara, who’s at the moment valued at a price of round £13m by the French aspect.
It was claimed {that a} everlasting deal, which might be a membership document for each golf equipment, is unlikely and that the Glasgow giants could look down the mortgage route for the 20-year-old dynamo, if doable.
Why Rangers ought to signal Kassoum Ouattara
The Gers ought to push to beat Celtic to Ouattara’s signature earlier than the top of the summer season switch window with a transfer for him this month, as a result of he might be a improbable addition to the squad as a substitute for Jefte.
Ought to the Brazilian’s transfer to Palmeiras undergo as reported, Rangers might want to discover a left-footed left-back who can present sufficient high quality on the pitch to enhance Martin’s staff, and the Monaco teenager seems to suit the invoice.
The younger defender solely began 5 of his 12 appearances within the French top-flight in the course of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, per Sofascore, however showcased his high quality in these restricted outings for Monaco.
Ouattara additionally performed in Ligue 2 with Amiens within the 2023/24 marketing campaign and caught the attention with 3.3 tackles and interceptions and 6.1 ball recoveries per sport, which reveals that he can supply a robust defensive presence at left-back when wanted.
Nonetheless, his performances in Ligue 1 for Monaco in the latest season confirmed what he’s greatest at: attacking. The £13m-rated full-back was an efficient attacking power down the left flank together with his capacity to create possibilities for his teammates frequently within the closing third.
24/25 season *per 90 | Ouattara (Ligue 1) | Jefte (Premiership) |
|---|---|---|
xA* | 0.29 | 0.11 |
Possibilities created* | 1.38 | 1.14 |
Profitable crosses* | 1.62 | 1.00 |
Cross accuracy | 41.2% | 28.3% |
Assists* | 0.23 | 0.13 |
Dribbles accomplished* | 1.15 | 1.17 |
Stats by way of FotMob | ||
As you may see within the desk above, Ouattara’s attacking output was much more spectacular than Jefte’s was within the Premiership in a Rangers aspect that finally completed second within the division.
These statistics present that the French starlet has excellent potential as an attack-minded left-back, as he created virtually thrice as a lot xA per 90 compared to the Brazilian.
Analyst and author Kai Watson described Ouattara as a “very offensive” full-back and these statistics actually again up that declare, as he’s an distinctive passer and crosser on the proof of his kind in considered one of Europe’s main leagues final time period.
The duty for him, although, is to show that he can do it over the course of a whole season. A transfer to Ibrox would supply him with a platform to do precisely that, with a vacant spot at left-back if Jefte strikes on, and in a staff that will likely be competing for the title this time period.
Due to this fact, the Gentle Blues must be making a transfer to signal Ouattara from Monaco this summer season as a result of he may are available as a dream substitute for Jefte as an attack-minded full-back for Martin.
