Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Cyriel Dessers, the 28-year-old Cremonese striker, and former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has expressed his admiration for the player. After the recent acquisition of Sam Lammers from Atalanta, the Scottish club is actively seeking another striker, with Dessers emerging as a strong candidate.
Ferguson, in his column for the Daily Record, shared his positive views on the potential signing, highlighting Dessers’ qualities and the challenges faced by players in Italian leagues. However, as Ferguson notes, it is crucial to reserve judgment until Dessers proves himself on the field.
Ferguson expressed his thoughts on Dessers, acknowledging that he may not be a widely recognized name among fans. Nevertheless, having researched the player since he was linked with Rangers, Ferguson has been impressed. In his column, he stated, “There’s also plenty of talk about Cyriel Dessers coming in. Again, like Lammers, he will be a name that’s not particularly well known to people but since being linked with them I’ve been doing a bit of research and I like what I’ve seen and read.”
He continued, discussing the challenges faced by Dessers and Lammers in Italian football, where they have recently been playing. Ferguson highlighted the defensive nature of Serie A and Serie B, suggesting that scoring goals in such leagues can be challenging. He stated, “Neither of them have prolific scoring records in Italy, where they’ve been playing of late, but Serie A and Serie B are tough places to get on the scoresheet with the style of play generally more suited to stopping the opposition from making and taking chances.”
While Ferguson believes that Dessers could make a positive impact at Ibrox, he also points out the example of Antonio Colak, who arrived with high expectations but failed to live up to them. Ferguson cautioned against making premature assessments, stating, “As is the case with any new transfer, it’s always important to reserve judgement until he’s actually performed on the pitch.” He urged caution and emphasized the need to give Dessers an opportunity to prove himself before passing final judgment.
With Lammers already joining Rangers and the potential arrival of Dessers, Ferguson raises concerns about the playing time of Antonio Colak. If the club secures both strikers, opportunities for Colak could become limited. Ferguson suggests that manager Michael Beale may need to consider sanctioning player exits to prevent the squad from becoming excessively bloated. Although the club has seen the departure of free agents, the likes of Colak, Glen Kamara, and Ben Davies remain, and two or three exits may be necessary to maintain a balanced squad.
Barry Ferguson, former Rangers captain, has voiced his admiration for the potential signing of Cyriel Dessers, emphasizing the need to give the Nigerian striker an opportunity to showcase his skills. While Dessers and Lammers may not have achieved prolific goal-scoring records in Italy, Ferguson highlights the challenges of playing in the defensive-minded leagues of Serie A and Serie B. However, Ferguson also urges caution, drawing attention to the unpredictability of new signings, citing the example of Antonio Colak. With the potential arrival of Dessers, Ferguson raises concerns about the playing time of Colak and suggests that the club may need to consider player exits to maintain a balanced squad.