Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin now has a target to aim for, as he knows that his side will face Panathinaikos in a Champions League qualifier next month.
With that fixture on the horizon, it is important that the Light Blues accelerate their transfer business to ensure that they have the best squad possible for the two legs.
There are still question marks hanging over various positions in the squad, with around a month to go before the first leg, and Cyriel Dessers is one player who faces an uncertain future.
AEK Athens are interested in signing the striker but are reportedly only willing to pay £3.8m, whilst the Light Blues are looking for a fee in the region of £5m.
Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not the Nigeria international will still be at Ibrox when the summer transfer window slams shut, Martin should be pushing for the club to cash in on the striker to make room for a replacement.
Why Rangers should cash in on Cyriel Dessers
The former Scotland international should urge the club to move on from the 30-year-old striker because he does not fit the way that the manager may want his team to be next season.
Former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness described Dessers as “marmite” to Rangers supporters, and claimed that the striker “disappeared” and went “invisible” at times, which means that he may not suit the “tougher” Light Blues that Martin will want.
Wyness claims that the Rangers boss will want a tougher and stronger team that is harder to beat next season, and the experienced marksman’s form in the 2024/25 campaign suggests that he would not fit into that.
|
Cyriel Dessers (24/25) |
Premiership |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
35 |
|
Goals |
18 |
|
Big chances missed |
21 |
|
Duels won per game |
2.0 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
34% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
31% |
|
Duel success rate |
33% |
As you can see in the table above, Dessers offered very little to the team from a physical perspective, as he was dominated in duels on the ground and in the air, and rarely won physical contests during matches.
Whilst the former Cremonese striker, as shown by his 18-goal haul in the Scottish Premiership, did score goals for the Light Blues, his all-round game left a lot to be desired.
That, along with the copious number of ‘big chances’ that he missed, is why Martin should push for the club to strike a deal with AEK Athens to sell the forward.
Striker admits interest in Rangers move
Reported Rangers transfer target Matija Frigan has admitted that he does have some interest in a transfer to Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, and he could be a dream replacement for Dessers.
When asked about the possibility of a move to Glasgow ahead of next season, the Croatian marksman claimed that he would “suit” Scottish football.
As quoted by the Daily Record, the striker said: “Rangers? That style of league would suit me. I think I’m a player for that type of football.
“I know about the interest from clubs, it’s good to hear and read such things, but we’ll see. Nothing has been decided yet. Things are in the hands of my agent and when there is something more concrete, we will know. We will weigh everything up and choose the best option.”
The Daily Record adds that the striker is valued at £6.5m by Westerlo, amid interest from Rangers, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants are prepared to meet that valuation to sign the attacker.
Frigan, himself, at least, believes that he would be a good fit at Ibrox for Martin, and that is backed up by some of his statistics in the Pro League this season.
Why Rangers should sign Matija Frigan
The Gers should sign the 22-year-old centre-forward from Westerlo before the end of the summer transfer window as a dream replacement for Dessers, as he could provide the physicality that has been lacking at the top end of the pitch at Ibrox.
Frigan, who stands at 6 foot 1, is a more physical number nine than the Nigeria international and would provide more of a focal point for Martin up front, as illustrated by their respective statistics in the 2024/25 campaign.
|
24/25 season |
Dessers (Premiership) |
Frigan (Pro League) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
35 |
39 |
|
Ground duels won |
42 |
74 |
|
Aerial duels won |
28 |
51 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
34% |
43% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
31% |
36% |
|
Fouls won |
21 |
35 |
|
Fouls committed |
32 |
31 |
As you can see in the table above, the left-footed attacker is significantly more physical in the way that he competes for and wins duels both on the deck and in the air for his side.
This suggests that he would be far better equipped to duel with imposing Scottish Premiership centre-backs week-in-week-out, and be reliable when it comes to competing in scrappy games instead of going ‘invisible’, as Wyness claimed that Dessers does.
As shown in the clip above, Frigan brings more to the table than just physicality, as he is also an impressive marksman who can score goals regularly.
He found the back of the net 13 times and only missed 12 ‘big chances’ in the Pro League this season, whilst Dessers missed more ‘big chances’ (21) than he managed goals (18) for Rangers.
These statistics show that the Westerlo forward is a “complete” striker, as he was once described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, because he can combine being excellent physically with impressive finishing and a reliable goal threat.
The six ‘big chances’ that he created for his teammates in the Pro League also suggest that the young centre-forward can also provide for others at times in the number nine position.
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Plenty of clubs were keen.
Overall, Frigan appears to be a dream replacement for Dessers as a striker who can suit the way Martin wants to play with his physicality, whilst also being a goal threat, on top of the fact that he is eight years younger and has more potential to develop and improve.
