Nigeria international Cyriel Dessers is set to remain with Scottish Premier Football League giants Glasgow Rangers for the meantime, after Greek outfit AEK Athens cooled their interest in the striker, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 30-year-old, who had been heavily linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer, could be resigned to staying put with manager Russell Martin’s side, after potential candidates AEK Athens completed the signing of former Real Madrid attacker Luka Jovic on a free transfer.
The Serbian forward, 27, had been on the books of Italian Serie A outfit AC Milan, and spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Fiorentina. Jovic was the alternative striker target for AEK, after experiencing difficulties in negotiations to purchase Dessers.
The Greek club had few issues in finalising personal terms with the Nigerian, having proposed an annual salary package worth €1.7m per season to the former Cremonese man, which is nearly €1m more than his current take-home pay at Rangers.
However, they could not reach an agreement with the Gers as regards a suitable fee for Dessers’ signature, with Rangers rejecting a €5.2m bid.
Despite the failed move, Dessers has begun the season in commendable fashion. Having recovered from injury in pre-season, the ex-Feyenoord man has made substitute appearances in Rangers’ UEFA Champions League second qualifying round fixture against Panathinaikos, which the Ibrox side won 3-1 on aggregate, and the 1-1 draw away to Motherwell at Fir Park on match-day one of the 2025/26 SPFL campaign.
His approach to the season has drawn praise from manager Russell Martin, who has asked other members of the playing squad to emulate the Nigerian.
The top scorer during the 2024/25 season opened his goals account for the new campaign when he netted a 45th minute penalty for Rangers against Czech opposition Viktoria Plzen in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first-leg fixture at Ibrox on Tuesday night, as he continues his gradual return to full match fitness.
While speculations surrounding a summer move may have been quelled, Dessers is poised to help Rangers reach the lucrative league phase of the revamped UEFA Champions League and also launch an assault on the Scottish topflight as they challenge perennial rivals Celtic.
