It was not only those on the Dens Park pitch who came out of Rangers’ 1-1 draw at Dundee with their reputations somewhat scorched.
On a night when Connor Barron did his hopes of a full-time return to the starting XI little good, on a night when Ridvan Yilmaz, Jefte and even goalscorer Vaclav Cerny showed signs of fatigue, when the performances of Nedim Bajrami, Mo Diomande and Robin Propper provided more questions than answers, one of the most interesting aspects was a Cyriel Dessers’ no-show.
Rangers needed a goal. And, yet, Philippe Clement left his top scorer twiddling his thumbs on the visiting bench. Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo, Danilo and Ross McCausland were all called upon, but not Dessers.
Having started only one of the last nine Premiership matches – and he was hauled off at half-time in that 2-2 draw with Motherwell too – suggestions that Dessers could be on his way out of Ibrox this month will only grow louder following a night in which his importance to Clement’s plans was made brutally clear.
Empoli director opens door to Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers
Hamza Igamane has replaced Dessers as Rangers’ go-to number nine. And, with Danilo fit again, the Nigeria international has gone from first-choice to a distant third in double-quick time.
So with Gianluca di Marzio reporting that Dessers has at least two routes back to Serie A – Cagliari and Empoli are both keen on a man who left Cremonese for Glasgow in a £4.5 million deal back in 2023 – Rangers may not be particularly minded to stand in his way.
Both Cagliari and Empoli are averaging fewer than a goal a game this season. 18 apiece from 19 Serie A matches.
Empoli director Roberto Gemmi, meanwhile, is making no secret of the club’s desire to bring in a centre-forward. Eldor Shomorudov – the £15 million Roma back-up – has also been linked. Though, speaking to Sky Italia, Gemmi insists that it is far from a case of Shomorudov or no one, keeping the door ajar for Dessers to arrive at the Stadio Carlo Castellani instead.
“I don’t know [if we will sign Shomorudov],” Gemmi explains. “It could be someone else.”
Empoli could have money to spend this month. The Tuscany-based outfit are expected to cash in on prized asset Jacopo Fazzini, with Gemmi admitting that Lazio, Fiorentina and 2023 Scudetto winners Napoli are all interested in the Italy Under-21 international.
As for Dessers, having turned 30 in December, Rangers may look to seize the chance to recoup much of that £4.5 million investment while they still have the chance. The former Feyenoord striker has been linked with St Etienne in France too.
Of course, given Danilo’s injury record, Clement would likely need a replacement.
Rangers linked with Iqraam Rayners as well as Lawrence Shankland option
Rangers are reportedly keen on South African hitman Iqraam Rayners but the reports saying that a £2.4 million bid has landed on Mamelodi Sundowns’ coffee table are yet to be corroborated by sources closer to the Glasgow giants.
There is also the Lawrence Shankland option. Should they wish to do so, Rangers can sign the Hearts talisman on a pre-contract arrangement with Shankland due to become a free-agent in the summer.
“I don’t think he would get a game over Igamane but I don’t think many people would get a game over Igamane!,” Tony Watt said this week in conversation with Motherwell teammate and one-time Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday.
“It depends on him, if he would go there. I don’t think he would. Maybe he would, I don’t know. He is the main man at Hearts. Surely you can get a move where you are going to be the main man elsewhere.”
“I think he’s good enough [to play for Rangers],” Watt adds. “I think he will score you 20 goals a season. He has shown that, if you get him in the box, he will l score. Hearts relied on him last year and, when he wasn’t scoring, they struggled.
“I think he would be a good signing, but it depends on what his role is going to be.”
