Change is on the horizon for Rangers this summer, whether you call it a revamp, rebuild, or reconstruction. Significant changes have already occurred, with the club parting ways with five seasoned players at the end of their contracts, generating no transfer fees in the process. Belgian manager Philippe Clement faces a challenging task this summer as he considers further cuts to the first-team squad. However, one player has already demonstrated his abilities early in pre-season: Cyriel Dessers.
If you had asked Rangers fans in January if they would accept £4.5 million for Cyriel Dessers, they would likely have agreed without hesitation. Initially, the Belgian-born Nigerian striker struggled to impress, with his lack of goals frustrating supporters. However, as the season progressed, Dessers began to win over the fans despite a series of injuries that put additional pressure on him as the Ibrox number 9.
Dessers, who has been vocal about the criticism he received from Rangers fans, experienced a significant turnaround in Scotland. Nevertheless, he is now strongly linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer. Greek club PAOK is among the leading contenders for his signature, with other European and Saudi Arabian teams also showing interest.
With the potential to recoup the £4.5 million spent on Dessers last summer, Rangers supporters are now more hesitant about his departure. A year after his arrival, and with his initial Ibrox experience behind him, Dessers has started pre-season on a high note, scoring in the club’s first friendly of the new campaign.
In a 5-2 victory over Hamilton, Dessers found the net alongside Scott Wright and Todd Cantwell, who are also linked with possible exits. The other goals were scored by Ross McCausland and Cole McKinnon.