Patrick Stewart, Rangers’ chief executive, laid out a plan last month that should see the Europa League hopefuls avoid the sort of mistakes they made with Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
At one point or another, Kent and Morelos, plus Filip Helander, Glen Kamara and Borna Barisic to name but three, were all linked with big-money moves Premier League clubs. Instead, they all ended up leaving Ibrox for nothing when their contracts expired.
This, Stewart indicates, is something that must change. Rangers have to learn when to sell, as well as how much to sell for. To think, they could have taken home somewhere in the region of £70 million had they sold Kent, Morelos, Helander, Kamara and Barisic at the peak of their powers.
“Critically, [we must ensure] that we’re selling players at the right time,” the CEO said. “Because that’s critical to the player trading model.”
So, despite what many have dubbed Cyriel Dessers’ greatest ever Rangers performance in the Europa League beating of Fenerbahce, both Andy Halliday and Ross McCormack are still in agreement.
If substantial bids are made over the summer – for a 30-year-old striker who set the Gers back £4.5 million – well, the phrase ‘strike while the iron is hot’ comes to mind.
Rangers urged to cash in on Cyriel Dessers this summer
Halliday, the former Rangers midfielder, highlights Dessers’ age. The centre-forward celebrated his 30th birthday in December.
As such, there is a very real chance that his value will diminish considerably over the coming years.
If Rangers want to recoup their £4.5 million investment, the upcoming summer window may represent their best chance.
“He was a 9/10 at least [against Fenerbahce],” Halliday says. “That was arguably his best all-round game for Rangers. [But] he is one of those you would willingly sell.
“He’s not young now either.”
Ross McCormack has been one of Cyriel Dessers’ biggest backers, standing up for the oft-maligned Nigeria international even when the criticism of his performances was reaching ear drum-popping levels earlier in the campaign.
By his own admission, however, McCormack did not envisage this rough-and-tumble number nine pulling out the sort of Kevin de Bruyne-esque pass which set up the first of Vaclav Cerny’s two goals away to Fenerbahce.
Jose Mourinho said Dessers played like one of the world’s best in Turkey. On that performance alone, it’s hard to disagree.
Ross McCormack says Rangers must learn from Alfredo Morelos mistake
“I didn’t see him doing things like that [pass for Cerny goal]! I just thought he was getting a bit of a raw deal,” McCormack explains. “I thought he was excellent.
“[But also] I think now is the time to sell him. I don’t think his value will go higher [than right now]. If he keeps going this season as he has been the last few weeks, I think it will be the peak of what Rangers can get.
“[They should have learned their lessons from] keeping Kent too long, keeping Morelos too long.”
Dessers was linked with the likes of Cagliari, Leganes, Empoli and St Etienne during the January transfer window. Given that he has scored or assisted nine goals in 11 games since the first few weeks of 2025 – coinciding with Hamza Igamane’s dip in form – Barry Ferguson will be extremely relieved that predecessor Philippe Clement did not green light a sale.
Cyriel Dessers kick-started the Barry Ferguson era with an emphatic brace in the 4-2 win over Kilmarnock, with the interim boss summing up what most Gers fans feel about the former Feyenoord hitman.
“I like him,” Ferguson said. “I’ve always said it, he’s got a brilliant work ethic.
“Sometimes, he frustrates you. He lost the ball a couple of times in the first-half. But, listen, what he brings you is he brings you a brilliant work ethic.
“I thought he led the line exceptionally well. There is a real player in there. I thought his goals tonight were great as well.”
