Philippe Clement knows Cyriel Dessers transfer needed for Rangers next level step
Rangers will sell Cyriel Dessers if an “acceptable” bid arrives this summer because Philippe Clement will know he needs better strikers, according to Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit assessed the Ibrox forward’s possible departure in his Scottish Sun column on 5 July, as he highlighted the need for the right signings to be made in order to share the goal scoring burden with Danilo, who he expects to be a big factor after injury.
While Boyd is supportive of certain aspects of Dessers’ game he believes growing interest in signing him should lead to an exit that works best for the Light Blues.
He wrote: “Cyriel Dessers could be on his way amid interest from PAOK in Greece — and I’m sure there will be other takers for the big man.
“He splits opinion among the Rangers fans, and he’s a difficult player to get a handle on. I like Dessers’ attitude, I like the fact he doesn’t hide and he will always work hard for the team.
“The striker scored 22 goals last season, and he deserved pass marks for that. But Dessers can also be really frustrating to watch…
“However, Clement will know that he needs better options if he wants to take the team to the next level.
“If an acceptable bid comes in, I don’t see Rangers standing in the way of the Nigerian hitman, and letting him move on after only one season at Ibrox.”
Kris Boyd backs Philippe Clement to upgrade Rangers strikers
Dessers obviously has his limitations so the Light Blues had a struggle on their hands last term when he was the last man left standing at centre-forward.
He has also demonstrated some very valuable qualities, not least as he was likely the previous summers’ signing that improved the most after a difficult start.
So keeping him as a back-up striker would certainly be valid but with Clement and Nils Koppen facing a lot of work in the transfer window the trade off between his usefulness in the squad and what could be done with the fee he commands could go either way.
The club reportedly want to make their money back on his £4.5m signing a year ago [Rangers Review, 3 July] and with more clubs in for him the chances of getting that increase.
Boyd is one of a number of pundits to highlight what Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland could do in the Gers line-up and a deal looks like it is there to be done for the Scotland international this summer.
Few would likely be complaining if the Light Blues were able to do a pair of deals that swapped Dessers for Shankland but whether that is the direction Clement and Koppen would be willing to turn remains to be seen.
In other Rangers news, it has been confirmed that another Gers goalkeeper has moved this summer.
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