After his no-show against Dundee, one member of Philippe Clement’s Rangers roster appears closer than ever to bringing the curtain down on his Ibrox career.
And few would have seen this coming only a few months ago, when Cyriel Dessers was starting games week in week out. Not only in the Scottish Premiership but in the Europa League too.
Furthermore, with 12 goals in all competitions, the Belgium-born Nigeria international is still Rangers‘ top scorer this season. Yet, things change quickly in football and, after being downgraded from the club’s first-choice centre-forward to their third behind Hamza Igamane and Danilo, a January exit now feels like a very realistic possibility just a year-and-a-half after his arrival in Glasgow from Italian outfit Cremonese.
According to Gianluca di Marzio, a return to Serie A for Cyriel Dessers is on the cards. Both Empoli and Cagliari are interested in the former Feyenoord striker.
And while Rangers Review add that neither club have made contact at this stage, Rangers have held ‘preliminary talks’ with other interested parties.
The Glasgow giants are also open to selling Dessers. Having turned 30 in December, and with over two years remaining on his contract, cashing in now rather than later down the line – when his value will have decreased further – does feel like the right decision from a financial perspective.
From a sporting one, however, only time will tell.
Rangers open to selling Cyriel Dessers in January
Dessers may have started only one of the last eight league matches – he didn’t even get off the bench as Rangers’ away woes continued at Dundee on Thursday night – but this is a long old season for a team balancing domestic and European exploits.
Should Igamane’s form dwindle, or should Danilo suffer a repeat of the injury issues which have typified his time in Scotland, who would Rangers turn to then?
Former Ibrox attacker Ross McCormack still rates Dessers higher than fellow Eredivisie export Danilo, feeling that the work-rate and the presence he offers in attack makes up for his well-documented inconsistencies streak in front of goal.
“I’m happy to say something right now. See, if I get the choice of Dessers or Danilo, I take Dessers every time,” McCormack said a few weeks ago. “I’m not having Danilo. If you offered me Dessers or Danilo, I take Dessers all day long.
“I think he’s strong, tenacious. Yeah, he’ll miss the odd chance… I would take Igamane over Dessers, for sure. But not Danilo.”
Hamza Igamane also linked with exit but Rangers hope to keep him
Dessers’ potential departure at least means Rangers are confident of keeping Igamane, amid claims that Everton are watching the young Moroccan.
Clement knows that Igamane will leave Ibrox at some point down the line, but a man who helped the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni and Charles de Ketelaere seal big-money moves to European giants is praying that day does not come any time soon.
“Those are things to discuss inside the club,” Clement said this week when asked about the prospect of Igamane being rewarded with a new and improved contract.
“That’s the good thing now. There’s a lot of clarity after this period of six months where there was a big vacuum and I was the only spokesman in the club.
“This is something for Patrick [Stewart, CEO] and Nils [Koppen, technical director] to talk about, about contracts. Of course I’m involved in those things and we discuss everything. But it will be on their plate to discuss with you guys.”
