Rangers transfer exit questions after enormously significant Cyriel Dessers development
Cyriel Dessers’ future is an “existential question” at Rangers after the exit-linked striker scored a crucial late equaliser against Dynamo Kyiv, according to Tom English.
The BBC Sport journalist wrote for the broadcaster’s website on 6 August after the 1-1 draw in the Champions League qualifier that he wanted to laugh when the Nigerian levelled in stoppage time with a vital first goal of the season despite endless doubts around him.
Dessers is said to have attracted interest from around Europe and in Saudi Arabia [Rangers Review, 3 July] but remains both a “mystery” and the top man for Philippe Clement with Danilo not fully fit.
English wrote: “When Cyriel Dessers timed his run to perfection and scored what might prove to be an enormously significant equaliser, the first instinct was to laugh.
“Mr Resilient strikes again. The most written-off Rangers goalscorer in decades defies the odds once more.
“Dessers continues to make Rangers fans lie down in a darkened room to ponder their feelings about him. Is he part of the solution or part of the problem? Does he have to stay or does he need to go?
“This is the existential question of the era at Rangers. In the last two decades, at least, there cannot have been a Rangers striker who has scored so many and yet convinced so few. Winston Churchill might have had him in mind when talking about a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”
Danilo and Hamza Igamane not ready to start for Rangers
Dessers, 29, has proven that he will infuriate and galvanise in almost equal measure after a 22-goal debut campaign.
The prevailing view on him will likely lurch from one side to the other depending on what he is done most recently for as long as he stays the de facto main man for Philippe Clement.
Danilo is tipped to be some weeks off full fitness and Hamza Igamane likely even further off having only just joined team training, despite a preseason injury being denied [4 Lads Had A Dream, 30 July].
So unless a big-money move for Lawrence Shankland or Albion Rrahmani is on the cards imminently it looks like Gers hopes will rest on Dessers shoulders for the foreseeable future.
Despite his faults he is now the most proven source of goals in the entire squad outside of James Tavernier, and the problem for Clement is that he will likely have to sell him to bring in a top replacement [The 4th Official, 5 August].
Shankland would need no time to adapt to the Scottish Premiership but if Rrahmani remains the preferred choice it would be a risk if he didn’t hit the ground running.
While Clement is thought to be reconsidering a move for the Hearts star [Daily Record, 29 July] but it is unlikely to be easy.
So until there is a significant change it will continue to be Dessers up top for the Light Blues.
In other Rangers news, a “major” Lennon Miller update has emerged after of the Light Blues meeting with Motherwell amid links to a move.
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