Glasgow Rangers Premiership title hopes went up in flames on Boxing Day as they suffered their fourth league defeat of the season in opposition to St Mirren, conceding a late purpose to lose 2-1.
If the stress on Philippe Clement was easing up after a number of weeks of stable performances, then this defeat places him proper again at sq. one. Matches in opposition to Motherwell and Celtic are arising over the subsequent six days and extra dropped factors may see his place turn into untenable.
Whereas ideas are on these video games, certainly one eye is targeted on the upcoming January switch window, which supplies the Ibrox aspect an opportunity to bolster their squad forward of the second half of the season.
A lot will rely upon how a lot of a price range the supervisor shall be handed as soon as the winter window opens subsequent week, and he may need to promote a few gamers with a view to increase vital funds.
This might see a number of gamers depart Ibrox, with one present first group participant already attracting curiosity forward of January – Cyriel Dessers.
Why Rangers ought to lastly promote Cyriel Dessers
Sadly, Rangers at the moment are able the place they should promote gamers earlier than pondering of creating signings, such is the character of their funds.
Hopefully, Clement is ruthless and strikes on those that are both taking over a spot within the squad that isn’t warranted, or incomes a lavish wage which isn’t consultant of their performances on the sphere.
This might see a bunch of gamers depart the membership subsequent month, however it’s Dessers who’s the one attracting probably the most consideration as of late.
Earlier than Christmas, news emerged from France that Saint-Étienne have been displaying a eager curiosity within the striker forward of creating a possible transfer for the participant as soon as the window lastly opens.
This wasn’t the primary time that the Nigerian worldwide had drawn curiosity from elsewhere. In the course of the summer season switch window, Cagliari were hoping to carry the ahead to Serie A, however no transfer ever materialised.
Issues may need been completely different if Clement had extra centre-forwards in his squad, however with Danilo nonetheless recovering from a knee damage and Hamza Igamane nonetheless settling in at Ibrox, it was maybe too dangerous to promote Dessers.
January could possibly be the perfect time for the membership to recoup what they paid for him 18 months in the past, particularly as he hasn’t been the primary selection over the previous couple of weeks.
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Throughout 28 games in all competitions for the Gers, Dessers has discovered the again of the web on 12 events, but he has scored simply three league objectives for the reason that begin of September.
Not too long ago, Danilo and Igamane have taken turns being deployed because the lone striker in Clement’s 4-2-3-1 system, that means Dessers has needed to accept a spot on the bench.
|
Cyriel Dessers’ stats within the Premiership for Rangers |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Metric |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
|
Targets |
16 |
6 |
|
Assists |
4 |
2 |
|
Huge possibilities missed |
27 |
6 |
|
Huge possibilities created |
8 |
2 |
|
Photographs per recreation |
2.9 |
1.7 |
Moreover, the striker is also earning £27k-per-week, which locations him among the many highest earners on the membership.
All of those components ought to be considered with regard to his future. Is he contributing sufficient contemplating his excessive wage? The reply isn’t any. Subsequently, if a good bid arrives, then the Gentle Blues ought to settle for it.
This might unlock funds for Clement to maneuver for a participant they’ve been linked with these days who’s at present shining in South Africa…
Rangers’ seek for a striker
As reported by South African information outlet SNL24 (by way of the Scottish Sun), the Gentle Blues have been maintaining a detailed eye on striker Iqraam Rayners, who at present performs for Mamelodi Sundowns.
“There was an enquiry about Iqraam (Rayners) from Rangers of Scotland,” a supply informed SNL24.
“I don’t suppose there was a proposal from them at this stage. What I do know is that they have proven curiosity they usually proceed monitoring him.”
There is no such thing as a data on how a lot Rangers must pay to carry the South African to Glasgow, but it surely seems he’s doing all the pieces proper with a view to earn an enormous transfer overseas.
If a transfer for Rayners is concrete, this might see Dessers lastly packing in what could be a well-liked transfer among the many supporters. That’s for positive.
How Iqraam Rayners compares to Cyriel Dessers
Rayners stands out as the similar age as Dessers, however he’s at present within the type of his life for his membership aspect.
Throughout simply 17 matches in all competitions, he has scored 13 goals whereas chipping in with an help, a beautiful strike price in entrance of purpose, that’s for positive.
Certainly, all through the whole lot of 2024, he has notched 24 objectives for 2 golf equipment, which has led author Joshua Henricks to hail the player as “impressive” as a result of his goalscoring skill.
Domestically, Rayners averages 1.7 shots per game, has created one huge probability whereas succeeding with 75% of his dribble makes an attempt. Crucially, he has missed just one huge probability, indicating that he’s extra medical in entrance of purpose than Dessers, who tends to overlook a lot of possibilities.
The 29-year-old has additionally shone for his nation all through 2024, scoring four goals in ten video games for South Africa, with two coming throughout qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations because the nation prevented defeat of their group.
This proves that he’s in a position to star on the worldwide stage, suggesting he is probably not fazed by transferring to Ibrox in January.
With Hamza Igamane making the transfer to Scotland from Africa earlier this 12 months and adapting pretty properly, hopes are excessive that Rayners, who has extra expertise than the younger Rangers striker, may observe swimsuit.
As soon as once more, funds could possibly be the crux of any potential deal. If curiosity in Dessers is real, then securing a good charge for the 29-year-old may actually assist in Clement’s future switch plans.
Will Rayners be included on this? Solely time will inform, however the South African has confirmed his abilities in entrance of purpose all through the calendar 12 months.
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