Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers is set to be involved at some capacity for Scottish Premier Football League outfit Glasgow Rangers, in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round against Greek side Panathinaikos, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 30-year-old Nigerian international, who finished the 2024/25 campaign as the league’s top scorer with 18 goals, has been strongly linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer, with AEK Athens having agreed personal terms with the former Feyenoord man. However, the Greek side could not strike a deal with the Gers, plus the Scottish outfit’s inability to bring in reinforcements appeared to have scuttled the transfer.
Now back with the Gers, Dessers had been nursing an injury, but he did make an appearance off the bench in the reverse UEFA Champions League fixture against Panathinaikos, featuring for just 17 minutes to help his side record a 2-0 victory.
New Rangers manager Russell Martin is said to favour pairing the Nigerian with another wantaway attacker, Hamza Igamane up front for the trip to Greece. Igamane has been touted to make the switch across the English channel to join French Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille Metropole, after his brilliant displays late term, although there are some details left in order to finalise a move.
According to Scottish media outlet, Ibrox News, “Martin has already said that he would like to work out a way in which Igamane and Dessers could play together in the Gers attack, which has fuelled speculation of Danilo’s departure. The Gers boss has a difficult decision to make against Panathinaikos in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier.”
Meanwhile, former Rangers player Derek Ferguson revealed his preference for Dessers to remain at the club. He told Ibrox News, “Dessers’ stats were fantastic last season, and Igamane will only get better, so of course you’d like them at the club. But they have to be happy as well. I’ve spoken to a number of people at the club and they all rave about Dessers’ attitude as a player, it’s second to none.
“I’m more in the dark with Igamane, and I don’t know what it is, but I get the feeling he wants to ply his trade elsewhere. Of the two of them, I’d like to keep Dessers,” he added.
While Dessers’ future remains uncertain, he will be looking to get Rangers successfully into the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
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