Rangers man the alternative to £15m Roma ace as director opens door for Ibrox exit.
Rangers’ 1-1 draw against Dundee left more than just the players on the Dens Park pitch with tarnished reputations.
On a night when Connor Barron’s chances of a full-time return to the starting XI were dashed, when Ridvan Yilmaz, Jefte, and even goalscorer Vaclav Cerny showed signs of fatigue, and when the performances of Nedim Bajrami, Mo Diomande, and Robin Propper left more questions than answers, one of the most intriguing aspects was Cyriel Dessers’ absence. The Rangers needed a goal. Nonetheless, Philippe Clement left his top scorer sitting on the visiting bench. Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo, Danilo, and Ross McCausland were all summoned, but not Dessers. Having only started one of the last nine Premiership matches, and he was pulled off at half-time in that 2-2 tie with Motherwell, suggests that, Dessers could be on his way out of Ibrox this month will only grow louder following a night in which his importance to Clement’s plans was made brutally clear.
Empoli director opens door to Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.
Hamza Igamane has taken Dessers’ place as Rangers’ starting number nine. And, now that Danilo is fit again, the Nigeria international has dropped from first to third place in double quick time. So, with Gianluca di Marzio suggesting that Dessers has at least two options for returning to Serie A – Cagliari and Empoli are both interested in a man who left Cremonese for Glasgow in a £4.5 million move in 2023 – Rangers may not be eager to block his path. This season, both Cagliari and Empoli have averaged fewer than one goal per game. 18 each from 19 Serie A games.
Empoli director Roberto Gemmi, meantime, has made no secret of the club’s desire to sign a centre forward. Eldor Shomorudov, Roma’s £15 million back-up, has also been connected. Speaking with Sky Italia, Gemmi believes that it is not a case of Shomorudov or no one, leaving the door open for Dessers to arrive at the Stadio Carlo Castellani instead.
“I don’t know [if we will sign Shomorudov],” Gemmi says. “It could be someone else.” Empoli might have money to spend this month. The Tuscan club is poised to cash in on prized asset Jacopo Fazzini, with Gemmi revealing that Lazio, Fiorentina, and 2023 Scudetto winners Napoli are all interested in the Italy Under-21 international. Dessers, who turned 30 in December, may want to take advantage of the opportunity to reclaim a large portion of their £4.5 million investment while it is still possible. The former Feyenoord striker has also been linked with Saint Etienne in France. Of course, considering Danilo’s injury history, Clement would probably require a replacement.
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