Rangers number nine makes request to club as Champions League hopefuls close in - report
06/25/2024 01:00 AM
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has already been through the mill at Ibrox.
Signed last summer on a reported £4.5m deal from relegated Serie A side Cremonese, the Belgian-born Nigerian striker bit off more than he could chew in the early stages of his Rangers career.
Like the rest of the names involved in Michael Beale's £21m summer overhaul, the intensity of life at Rangers caught Cyriel Dessers by surprise and he struggled to make a proper impact.
But by the end of the campaign, Cyriel had begun to win over the hearts of Rangers supporters with some big goals (22 of them in total) and a relentless work ethic.
Whether or not the big man is of the required level to wear the number 9 shirt remains a topic of debate.
Now, a report coming out of Greece has claimed that Dessers has told Rangers he wants to move on with one team of Champions League hopefuls already in the mix to sign him.
Dessers to leave Rangers?
Greek outlet Nova Sports claims to have exclusive information surrounding Cyriel Dessers and a move to the nation's champions PAOK.
The Greek club narrowly lifted the Super League title last season, finishing two points above AEK Athens on the final day of the campaign to earn their first crown in five years.
As a reward PAOK are heading into the Champions Path of Champions League Qualification and will enter the competition at QR2.
With a revamped tournament format offering up to £30m to its participants, it's a land of milk of honey that Rangers too are hoping to reach next season.
But as the Greeks gear up for qualification Nova Sports reckon Cyriel Dessers is very much on the club's radar.
It's claimed that discussions with Dessers – who has requested to leave Rangers this summer – are at an 'advanced level' with the striker happy with the terms on offer in Thessaloniki.
It sounds like a move to Greece could very much be in the offing.
Rangers on striker transfer hunt
It could be quite a turnaround in the forward line at Rangers next season.
Cyriel Dessers was pretty much forced to lead the line last campaign with injuries to Kemar Roofe (surprise, surprise) and Danilo limiting the club's forward options.
With Abdallah Sima and young Zak Lovelace also suffering long-term problems, Dessers bore the brunt of responsibility, and criticism, in the Rangers striker berth.
The forward has spoken openly about the 'abuse' he suffered at the hands of fans following a number of fluffed opportunities and the club's title collapse.
It's not exactly a positive indictment of his experience in Glasgow and we're in no rush to rule out suggestions Cyriel Dessers could transfer to PAOK.
Rangers meanwhile have been linked to a number of striker options this summer.
That includes Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane – who is closing in on a move – and Albion Rrahmani – who has suggested the opposite in a recent interview.
