“He’s not happy” – Rangers head coach gives transfer verdict on Cyriel Dessers

Rangers head coach, Philippe Clement, has hinted Super Eagles striker, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, could leave the club before the January transfer window slams shut, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Nigerian was largely Rangers' first-choice forward since joining from Cremonese for a fee of €5m in 2023. However, in recent weeks, the 30-year-old has been a bit-part player at Ibrox, with the manager opting for Hamza Igamane in Dessers‘ place.

Dessers was drafted into the starting lineup in Rangers' 5-0 win over Fraserburgh in the Scottish FA Cup, and scored a hat-trick in front of the home fans to redeem himself after a poor run of form.

Despite drawing praise from his manager, it is looking increasingly likely that he'll part ways with the Scottish Record Champions soon.

“Cyriel is a great character to have in the dressing room, in the team. He always works hard. Of course, he's not happy if he cannot get more minutes like he had in the past to play that many minutes, but that's football at the highest level.

“It's a competition, but he kept on working, he kept on fighting. That's why he's ready also to play these games and to score a hat-trick then. So, that's what you want to see. We have discussions at least every week. We talk all the time. I think Cyriel shows that he has a desire to do everything for this club. And, of course, he wants to play every game,” Philippe Clement said in quotes revealed by the Daily Record.

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Additionally, the Belgian manager revealed Dessers‘ future is up in the air, as he's currently unhappy with his playing time, and the situation might not change anytime soon.

“It's a difficult question, that one. If Cyriel goes, you need to replace him, and it needs to be at least the same quality. If a player stays and he plays less and he becomes, because of that, unhappy and it goes down his level – something I don't fear with him – it's also not good for the club. So, we will see in the next two weeks what happens.

“I know if he's here, he will give everything for the club. And if he leaves, he needs to be replaced by somebody at least from the same quality,” the Rangers manager concluded.

Despite his lack of clinicality in front of goal, Dessers has scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 33 games for Rangers this season, averaging a goal contribution in 110 minutes of action.