- Dessers, who joined Rangers for €5 million in July 2023, has 35 goals and 13 assists but has faced criticism for inconsistency
- Ligue 1’s Saint Etienne, Serie A’s Cagliari, and La Liga's Leganés have shown interest, with Leganés contacting Rangers about a potential transfer
- Rangers are reportedly open to selling Dessers for €5 million to recoup their investment but may have to settle for less
Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers’ future at Rangers remains uncertain as the January transfer window unfolds, with mounting speculations about his potential exit due to reduced playing time under coach Philippe Clement.
Since joining Rangers from Cremonese in July 2023 for €5 million, Dessers has recorded an impressive 35 goals and 13 assists. Despite these statistics, the 30-year-old has faced criticism from fans who feel a more clinical striker is needed to boost the team’s performance.
Coach Clement, once a vocal supporter of Dessers, appears to have shifted his trust to Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane, who has been the preferred choice in the starting lineup since November.
This change has relegated Dessers to third in the pecking order, behind Igamane and Danilo. The Nigerian striker has started only one game since December, fuelling rumours of an imminent departure.
Clubs such as Ligue 1’s Saint Etienne and Serie A’s Cagliari have been linked with Dessers, but no concrete offers have emerged. Notably, Spanish side Leganés have reportedly contacted Rangers about the possibility of signing the striker.
Rangers are reportedly looking to recoup the €5 million they spent on Dessers, but given the striker’s current form and market dynamics, they may have to settle for a lower fee.
Show from state Dessers, who remains Rangers’ top scorer over the last two seasons, has seen his standing diminish due to inconsistency in front of goal.
Addressing his situation, Dessers expressed his desire to prioritise the team’s success while admitting a January move could be challenging.
Speaking in an interview, he acknowledged the difficulty of his reduced role but maintained his professionalism by supporting his teammates,
“Last month, I lost my starting spot. The boy [Igamane] who is playing now is also a good striker and scores. I try to support him and help because I want the team to win, but it is difficult,” Dessers stated.
While he hinted at the possibility of leaving Rangers, he acknowledged the challenges of securing a mid-season transfer, especially given his age and the financial constraints of clubs in need of strikers.
Rangers’ struggles without Dessers have left them trailing 13 points behind Celtic on the SPFL table.
“Fans threw stones at our bus,” Leon Balogun recounts experience representing Nigeria
Previously, TheRadar reported that Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun and his Rangers team-mates had to survive the frustrations and groans from the home fans at Ibrox on Sunday, November 10 as they struggled to a 1-0 win over Hearts.
The 36-year-old defender, in his fourth year at Ibrox, recalled a much more complicated situation after Nigeria let slip a comfortable lead in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier four years ago.
