Kenny Miller believes Cyriel Dessers may be the one new outfield player who will ‘nail down’ a starting spot immediately under Mick Beale.
After bringing a long-overdue end to a prolonged period of negotiations – Cyriel Dessers arriving from Cremonese for an initial fee of £4.3 million last week – time will tell if the Belgian-born Nigeria international proves to be worth the wait.
The former Feyenoord loanee certainly appears to have an easier route into Mick Beale’s XI than any of Rangers’ other outfield signings.
Abdallah Sima will face competition from the likes of Fashion Sakala and Rabbi Matondo. Sam Lammers may find himself battling with Todd Cantwell for the ‘number ten’ spot. Dujon Sterling will act as back-up to James Tavernier, and Kieran Dowell faces a challenge forcing his way into a high-class midfield.
Dessers, however, should step immediately into Alfredo Morelos’ shoes. Making the centre-forward position his own.
Cyriel Dessers should replace Alfredo Morelos at Rangers
“(Attack) is clearly an area of the team where Michael needed to get numbers in. They needed to get quality in. He’s addressed that pretty quickly,” former Rangers striker Miller tells BBC Sport.
“Dessers now coming in would be the most recognised one to take on that goalscoring mantle. Dessers definitely looks like he’s coming into nail a slot down.”
The former Heracles ace scored 20 goals for Feyenoord in 2021/22.
Although not quite as technical as Rangers’ other striker target – Feyenoord’s Danilo – what Dessers lacks in aesthetics he makes up for in efficiency; a bullish, almost-old-school poacher who should have few problems adapting to the fast-paced, physical nature of Scottish football.
‘Grow into the team’
Miller expects to see Dessers make an immediate impact. Patience may be a virtue with Sima, however; brought in on loan from Brighton having struggled to build on a superb breakthrough campaoign at Slavia Prague in 2020/21.
“Sima has potential. He has a lot of good qualities,” Miller adds. “(But) he’s had a few injury issues. He’s a signing that will probably grow into the team.
“Michael has been tracking these guys for a while (and) he’s put a lot of work into these players. At this moment, he’s earned the trust of the Rangers fans in relation to who he’s trying to sign.
“Cantwell and (Nicolas) Raskin, his first two signings, have been outstanding.”
