Rangers manager Philippe Clement in dilemma over Cyriel Dessers’ potential departure

By Saheed Afolabi

Rangers coach Philippe Clement is facing uncertainty regarding the future of influential forward Cyriel Dessers, who has attracted transfer interest despite having a valid contract with the club.

Dessers has been linked with a move away from Scotland this January, leaving Clement in a difficult position as he must consider the possibility of losing the Nigerian striker mid-season.

The manager is focused on finding a suitable replacement if Dessers decides to depart, emphasizing the need for a player of similar quality to fill the void.

“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 becomes unhappy because of that, which 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,” Clement said, as quoted by Daily Record.

Clement praised Dessers for his leadership and work ethic, noting that the forward’s commitment to the club remains strong despite limited playing time.

The coach expressed hope that Dessers would reconsider his options and remain at Rangers until the end of the season, adding, “I know if he’s here, he will give everything for the club.”

The experienced manager also acknowledged the competitive nature of the squad, which has led to Dessers playing fewer minutes than he might have expected.

However, Clement praised the striker for his perseverance and attitude, revealing their ongoing weekly discussions.

“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, 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 score a hat-trick,” Clement continued.

Ultimately, Clement is hopeful that Dessers’ dedication will continue to benefit Rangers, whether he stays or leaves, but the next two weeks will be crucial in determining the forward’s future.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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