Anthony Onifade

Mon 19 June 2023 11:40, UK

The long-awaited Rangers signing of Cyriel Dessers may now be at risk of collapse after Torino joined the race, and the Gers may have no option but to move fast to seal the transfer.

Rangers have been impressively efficient this summer so far, announcing Sam Lammers as the latest to join the Ibrox revolution under Michael Beale, completing their fourth signing of the summer after Kieran Dowell, Jack Butland and Dujon Sterling joined on free transfers.

And according to a Sky Sports update shared on Friday 9 June, the Gers are working on more deals as Beale seeks to bolster his midfield and attacking options with more talks planned for Cyriel Dessers and Jose Cifuentes, with Lammers already completed.

Dessers has emerged as a top target for the Rangers boss, calling for multiple striker deals following the departure of Alfredo Morelos and according to several reports, the Light Blues were reportedly “close to striking a deal at around the £5 million mark” to sign the Cremonese striker [Daily Record, 12 June], in order to pair him with their latest arrival.

However, it seems as though Rangers’ slow and steady pace to complete the deal has brought new irons into the mix, which may leave Beale knocking at the Gers boardroom door to move quicker.

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport [18 June], Serie A side Torino have joined the chase for Dessers with technical director Davide Vagnati looking to furnish manager Ivan Juric with a strong squad ready for the start of their preseason training camp next month.

Torino may also have a shortcut to reaching an agreement for Dessers amid the suggestion that Cremonese like their players Demba Seck and Gvidas Gineitis.

Also, with Dessers having already completed a season in Serie A, he may be tempted to stick around in Italy rather than take the risk of acclimatising to a new division, potentially proving a major blow for Rangers and their rebuild ambitions.

The Dessers deal appears to have become a slow burner in the same way the Jose Cifuentes move has and to some extent the pursuit of Jonathan Panzo. If Rangers are to match their Old Firm rivals Celtic, both on and off the pitch, these minor recruitment weaknesses certainly need to be addressed and ironed out.

All three players may yet still join the Ibrox revolution before long but it seems as though Beale is desperate to have his squad ready for pre-season which starts in the next few weeks. The Gers can ill-afford to waste time, especially on a striker option who could yet add the x-factor they need to topple Celtic next season.

The 28-year-old possesses versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline, and posted 13 goal contributions (ten goals and three assists) from 32 appearances in all competitions last season so was prolific in the final third, but he also posed a threat when he wasn’t on the scoresheet.

Dessers also ranked in the 92nd percentile for number of attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area and recorded 49 shots over the course of the term which was the second-highest total throughout the Cremonese squad, meaning his penalty box presence and destructiveness could prove a real tactical coup for Beale to evolve this team.

However, such a dream tactical scenario at Ibrox may well prove a faint one if Rangers aren’t swift and efficient as they have already proven in their approach. They simply have to move fast to secure this transfer or face losing yet another bargain opportunity.

In other Rangers news, transfer terms for a high-profile Ibrox move have been scrapped but the player could yet still arrive at the club this summer.