£4.5m Rangers star gains and then loses a suitor as Gers eye £2.4m alternative - reports
Today at 04:40 AM
Cyriel Dessers finds himself out of favour at Rangers and could soon find himself on a flight out of Scotland as exit reports swirl around the striker.
The Nigerian international hitman, 30, has netted 12 goals this season but finds himself on the bench following the emergence of Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane.
Whilst there have been goalscoring returns from the ex-Feyenoord forward at Rangers, Cyriel Dessers has often been found wanting in the big moments at Ibrox.
Now, reports in Italy suggest there is burgeoning interest in the striker in Serie A as Rangers reportedly turn their attentions to an African alternative.
Cyriel Dessers wanted by Cagliari
Rangers signed Dessers from Italian club Cremonese on a £4.5m deal and only 18 months later is the hitman being lined up for a return to Italy.
According to Italian outlet Centrotrentuno, Cagliari manager Davide Nicola has set his sights on signing Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.
It comes with the future of Italian-Peruvian talisman Gianluca Lapadula at the 'top of the list of departures' from Cagliari.
The future of Zambian striker Kingstone Mutandwa is also said to be uncertain.
It's claimed that Cagliari sporting director Nereo Bonato saw a move to sign Cyriel Dessers in the summer blocked by Rangers as injury decimated the Ibrox squad.
With Hamza Igamane and Danilo now back in the fold – something mentioned by the Italian report – it's claimed Cagliari would be interested in striking a loan deal.
There are alternatives to Cyriel Dessers of course, namely Italian-German forward Nicolò Tresoldi, but it's claimed Hannover are unlikely to be easy to deal with.
Interestingly, the report also claims that those Saint Etienne links to Cyriel Dessers have been short-lived, with the Ligue 1 side pulling out the race due to financial constraints.
Rangers target Iqraam Rayners
Cyriel Dessers certainly finds himself out of form and favour at Rangers and a return to Italy may offer the hitman a reprieve from the pressures of life at Ibrox.
Whilst the Belgian-born Nigerian striker is a positive guy and a likeable presence at the club, Rangers fans have gotten used to big moments passing the hitman by.
Dessers is now without a goal in seven games, with the striker hooked at half-time in the 2-2 draw with Motherwell, his only start in that run of games for Rangers.
Rangers too appear to have identified a replacement should Cagliari launch a move for Cyriel Dessers this month in the shape of South African striker Iqraam Rayners.
Rayners, 29, has been on explosive form for South African side Mamelodi Sundowns this season and Rangers have been linked in the striker's native country.
According to reports, Rangers have 'enquired' about 13-goal striker Rayners with Mamelodi Sundowns demanding around £2.4m for the striker's services.
