Rangers’ transfer strategy during the first summers at the helm for Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen was, to put it simply, pretty flexible.
Yes, plenty of focus was put on young, ambitious talents who – if they can develop as Rangers would like them do – could earn the Scottish Premiership giants a considerable profit later down the line.
Clinton Nsiala, Hamza Igamane, Connor Barron and Jefte all fall into that camp.
But, perhaps wary of becoming over-reliant on a core of unproven kids with a lot still to learn, Clement was also keen to add some valuable experience to his ranks following the departures of John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and co.
So, in came Vaclav Cerny. Nedim Bajrami, meanwhile, brings with him 26 Albania caps and over 101 Serie A appearances. 30-year-old Robin Propper, the oldest of Rangers’ outfield additions, also joined having captained FC Twente in the Eredivisie.
Rangers keep Cyriel Dessers despite Ibrox exit talk
Propper played alongside Cerny at Twente and Cyriel Dessers at Heracles.
Dessers, meanwhile, stays put despite links with MLS outfit Atlanta United and a rumoured return to Serie A with Cagliari.
But Cagliari’s transfer strategy was a little stricter than Rangers’. One that revolved around signing young, mostly homegrown players.
A case in point; Of their seven summer signings, four were under the age of 23. And five hailed from Italy.
So Dessers – a 29-year-old, Belgian-born Nigeria international – was never likely to be particularly high up Cagliari’s wishlist despite what some had reported in the Italian media.
“It was a good window. We have achieved our objectives,” Nereo Bonato, the Islander’s sporting director, tells Tuttomercatoweb. “We are building a basic structure following the philosophy of the club. More aggressive and dynamic.
“We want to focus on young targets, possibly Italian, also keeping in mind the playing characteristics of our coach, as well as the economic constraints and parameters.”
Serie A return was never likely
Dessers, though rather ineffective in that 3-0 Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic before the September international break, has still enjoyed an impressive start to the new campaign.
In seven games, the former Cremonese striker has five goals already even if one of the most enigmatic footballers in Rangers’ recent history continues to flit from the unplayable to the awful with maddening regularity.
“He is the maddest player. He can look unbelievable at times,” former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday told the Open Goal podcast on YouTube after Dessers hit a brace in the recent 6-0 trouncing of Ross County.
“Even his all round games. That is the criticism at times; his all-round game is just not there. He doesn’t make the ball stick, he’s too loose, he gives the ball away.
“But at the weekend, everything came off for him. He bullied Ross County’s centre-halves. He was spinning, playing balls through on goal. He created four big chances in 90 minutes. (That is) a lot, especially for a striker.
“He just had one of those games.”
Rangers, desperate to bounce back from that Celtic reverse, will be hoping that Dessers has another of ‘those games’ against Dundee United.
