Earlier this week, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday admitted he could scarcely believe that Rafael Fernandes was the only new face at Ibrox heading into the business end of the January transfer window.
But, as Rangers’ CEO Patrick Stewart explained earlier in the month, an influx of mid-season arrives was always unlikely. The chief executive felt that the perceived weaknesses in Philippe Clement’s roster had been exacerbated by injuries to so many key players in such a short period of time.
Stewart expects Jefte, Nedim Bajrami, Hamza Igamane to develop further going into their first calendar year in a Rangers shirt, too.
Jefte, Bajrami and Igamane all arrived during the summer of 2024. After a sluggish start, Jefte has been linked with Chelsea on the back of some fine recent form. Bajrami has blossomed in his favoured number ten role.
And, like with Jefte, Premier League interest has emerged in Hamza Igamane following a run of 12 goals in 17 games.
Alongside his jet-heeled left-back and the free-scoring Moroccan, Clement is keen to highlight two more players who have come on leaps and bounds in the first few weeks of 2025.
Philippe Clement pays tribute to Rangers stars as Nico Raskin scores in Union Saint Gilloise win
Nico Raskin capped another irrepressible display in the heart of Rangers’ midfield with his first goal since October 2023, heading the home side in front following a fine James Tavernier cross during Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Union Saint Gilloise.
Midfield partner Mohamed Diomande was ‘really good’ as Rangers beat Dundee United on Sunday meanwhile – to quote the aforementioned Halliday – and the Ivorian brought that form into the final matchday of the Europa League’s first round, spinning away from danger, dragging his teammates up the pitch and playing with the sort of swagger that appeared to have deserted him earlier in the campaign.
“I said it already 100 times, it’s not about me. And you can write whatever you want about things, I know what we are doing with the club,” a bullish Clement said post-match. “We explained in the beginning of the season what this club needed. And it’s not my choice, it was the choice of the board.
“But it’s good also that people start to see more and more [proof of our progress]. The things we talked about a few months ago, that people maybe didn’t believe or didn’t realise. They see this more and more, and this qualification in the Europa League is one of those things. That is a proof of [our development].
“With all these young guys on the pitch and the evolution that several have made during this month. If you see how Nico Raskin playing now. Or Diomande. Or Igamane. Or Jefte. And also the older guys. The experienced ones, helping the young guys and playing important games.”
Older guys like James Tavernier, Robin Propper – both were imperious against Manchester United – or 30-year-old Cyriel Dessers.
Clement says Dessers has played a big role in Igamane’s stunning Rangers rise, imparting some useful advice to his young protege on the training pitch. As Union Saint Gilloise were vanquished at Ibrox, it was Dessers who took centre stage, however, overshadowing the 22-year-old who has stolen his place in the starting XI.
While Hamza Igamane ‘struggled’ to exert his usual influence wide on the left, Dessers assisted Vaclav Cerny’s 55th minute clincher. That 2-0 lead, cut in half thanks to Kevin Mac Allister’s late consolation, emboldened Clement to bring 18-year-old duo Zak Lovelace and Paul Nsio during the dying stages.
Clement highlights Cyriel Dessers ‘evolution’ at Ibrox
“We have to throw in youngsters. They do the job for the team and they play a good game, like Ross [McCausland, playing at right-back] today. Or bringing in the really young ones like Paul Nsio and Zak Lovelace because it was necessary one moment with five players [injured],” Clement adds.
“So this club is on the right way. Is it fast enough to win everything? We want that. That’s our ambition. We need to create this culture. I see more and more this culture also in the dressing room, that they understand what this club is about. That was also one part of learning this new team.
“Cyriel played a brilliant game. The evolution of [him]… I remember when I came in last year, in October, how everybody was talking about him. Or even now some people still [doubt him]. But the games that he played this season already and how many amount of goals that he made…
Dessers has six goals and one assist in his last five matches. It is difficult to imagine a more emphatic response to the rumours linking the well-travelled and oft-maligned striker with a move away from Glasgow.
“He’s very important. He made a very good evolution in many things that were for me also not good enough in the beginning,” his manager admits. “But you see more and more that he’s using all the potential that he has inside of himself.”
