Rangers recruitment in this transfer window has gone from ticking along nicely to having the anchor thrown out to facilitate an all to abrupt halt.
Philippe Clement clearly isn’t happy, however, he is aware of the size of the task at hand is adept at identifying, buying and developing young players, alongside Nils Koppen, he has his work cut out.
The manager now finds himself needing to sell before he can buy with over £9m worth of wages already allocated to top earners that he might want to move on.
Rangers have new problem as Cyriel Dessers digs in
Speaking after the 2-1 friendly defeat to Ajax, the situation Clement now finds himself in with Rangers budget has been a long time coming:
“That’s the reality that the board told me a few months ago.
“I know this, the recruitment team knows this also. This is the reality of the club. I had other expectations when I came in in October, I have to say. But I know the reality now. I am very motivated to build the club and help in that.”
What won’t help his mood is the interview that Cyriel Dessers gave to Dutch media outlet Ziggo Sport Voetbal in conversation with Ronald de Boer after the game where he explained what his plans for the future are:
“I am very happy here, so I would like to stay.
“There is some interest, but my intention is to stay and then we will see what happens.”
Rangers don’t have to sell Dessers
Dessers is at the stage of his career where he won’t want to be a back up striker.
Last season, the 29-year old clearly played more often than he would have done if Danilo was fit and if the shortage of wingers hadn’t meant that Fabio Silva had to play off the left.
With Oscar Cortes back and nearly at full speed and Danilo returning to competitive action, Dessers might find himself having to play second fiddle more than he would want.
Hamza Igamane has also been signed to provide competition for a forward line that was severely lacking in options last season.
With a reported price tag of £4.5m, Rangers might have to be flexible, however, given his desire to stay, relying on Dessers to agree personal terms elsewhere isn’t a given.
It is a mess inherited by Clement but it is one that can be tolerated.
Having missed pre-season, Dessers was miles off the pace until Philippe Clement arrived at Ibrox.
For the rest of the campaign, his numbers were more than acceptable.
The biggest problem regarding the Nigeria international last season was Rangers having to put all their goalscoring eggs in his basket.
As one of three strikers, with wingers either side who can contribute, he could have a part to play.
Whether or not Dessers will still be in Glasgow when the window shuts is another story.
