By Kris Boyd’s admission, it is difficult to know what to make of one particular member of Philippe Clement’s Rangers roster.
The former Ibrox hitman cannot shake from his mind April’s shocking defeat. A collapse which sparked the beginning off the end for Rangers’ Scottish Premiership title hopes.
One of the most divisive, opinion-splitting players in the club’s recent history missed a very presentable chance to double the lead. A miss which proved all the more costly once Ross County scored three times in just 22 second-half minutes at Dingwall.
Yes, Cyriel Dessers ended his debut season in Scotland with 22 goals. Rangers’ top scorer from open play.
Yes, he bounced back from a dreadful start. Even Chris Sutton admitted that he had maybe written off the former Feyenoord ace too early.
But, for Boyd, Dessers still falls short of the quality Rangers need if they are to take the next step and break Celtic’s stranglehold on the domestic game.
Cyriel Dessers could leave Rangers for PAOK in Greece
“Rangers supporters are desperate for a new number nine to arrive this summer,” Boyd tells the Scottish Sun. “I would be stunned if Philippe Clement hasn’t made that position a priority. I believe Rangers do need to bring in another top-class striker this summer.
“Cyriel Dessers could be on his way amid interest from PAOK in Greece. 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. I don’t know of many other strikers who can score two goals in a game, but all anyone talks about afterwards is the chances they missed.”
Those PAOK links continue to swirl, even if reports from Greece suggest that Dessers is not their first choice. PAOK allegedly see the Belgium-born Nigeria international as the ‘Plan B’, behind ex-Barcelona man Martin Braithwaite, per Filathlos.
Rangers should, at least, recoup most if not all of their £4.5 million investment should Dessers depart. A sum which could be put to very good use in the club’s pursuit of a replacement.
The ‘special‘ Rapid Bucharest talisman Albion Rrahmani would reportedly cost a similar fee.
Kris Boyd backs Ibrox exit
“Dessers is a player who seems to convert the hard chances and then fluff the easier ones,” adds Boyd, a man who seldom suffered from similar bounds of profligacy while claiming five Premiership Golden Boot awards for Rangers and Kilmarnock.
“You think back to that pivotal moment against Ross County in April when he could have made it 2-0 and completely killed the game. Instead, Dessers made a mess of it, Rangers went on to lose and never really recovered in the title race.
“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.”
Boyd is also backing Danilo to step up after promising start to life in Glasgow was ruined by injury.
