Rangers forced to weigh January transfer decision as Celtic deal contributes in ‘bonafide’ Cyriel Dessers update
Rangers now have to weigh an exit for Cyriel Dessers against the lack of attacking alternatives currently at Ibrox, according to the Daily Record.
The paper reported on their website on 31 January that there is “bonafide” interest in the Nigerian forward from Italian duo Hellas Verona and Torino.
And the former appear to have turned their attentions towards the Gers striker as a response after being close to a move for the now Celtic-bound Adam Idah, with the Norwich man now headed for Parkhead on a loan-to-buy deal [Daily Record, 31 January].
But with Abdallah Sima, Danilo and Kemar Roofe all out with injury at Ibrox, and loan signing Fabio Silva “finding his feet” it means that if a bid arrives for Dessers “any deal to allow the 29-year-old to leave would be factored against the lack of attacking options at Rangers.”
Impossible
At times over the first few months of the season it might have seemed ridiculous for Rangers to need to cling onto Dessers in the face of genuine transfer interest.
His struggles since arriving from Italy are well documented but he appears to be stepping up to the challenge of leading the line increasingly as his teammates are ruled out.
Sam Lammers’ loan exit to FC Utrecht earlier in the window was no such blow as his impact pales in comparison, but with 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions now this season Dessers is perhaps now getting there.
He is far from clinical enough currently, but with less than 48 hours until the window shuts there is surely no way that Philippe Clement can contemplate losing the only fit number nine he has in the squad.
Another striker to back him up seemed like the most glaring need as the January window opened, and while Silva has arrived as an attacking option and a deal for Oscar Cortes is being worked on neither are centre-forwards.
If Clement comes out of the window without adding a striker it is already going to be risky, so losing what he has would be an incredible gamble.
Even if considerable money was on offer it leaves little time to spend it so, strange as it might seem, offers are likely to be dealt with in a similar way a late approach for Jack Butland has been and dismissed.
In other Rangers news, the signing policy at the club has changed as they head into a “really hectic” end to the window at Ibrox.
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