Cyriel Dessers scored three Scottish Cup goals and was named Rangers captain in the triumph over Fraserburgh.
The 30-year-old Nigerian international striker scored four of Rangers’ five goals in the 5-0 victory over the Highland League club at Ibrox.
After the Scottish Cup match, Scott Arfield described Cyriel Dessers as a ‘enigma’ and stated that many clubs around Europe will be keeping an eye on the Rangers striker.
As Dessers concedes he may leave Rangers this month, Philippe Clement has cautioned the Rangers board that they need someone of comparable talent to replace him.
Philippe Clement on Cyriel Dessers”situation’
This January, Cyriel Dessers was closely linked to a number of European clubs, with reports of transfer interest in Spain, France, and Italy.
However, the scenario changed when Cyriel Dessers stated that he would ‘need to discuss’ with Rangers if he continued to be left out of the team.
Dessers is now trailing Hamza Igamane and Danilo in the Rangers pecking order, despite the fact that the striker has 16 goals this season, making him the club’s top scorer.
When asked about the situation following the striker’s hat-trick against Fraserburgh, Philippe Clement refused to rule out a sale.
“It’s a difficult question,” Clement told the press when asked if he hopes the striker stays. “If Cyriel leaves, you’ll need to replace him.
“And it should be of at least equal quality.
“If a player stays and plays less, and as a result, he becomes unhappy and falls down this level, it is not only bad for him, but also bad for the club.
“We’ll see what happens over the next two weeks.” I know if he’s here, he’ll give his all for the club. And if he goes, he should be replaced by someone of at least equal quality.
“We have debates every day. No, not every day; at least once a week. We talk all the time.
“I believe Cyriel demonstrates a strong desire to do everything for the club. Of course, he wants to play every game. It then shows that you are the finest.
“That’s how it works at Rangers; he’s also well familiar with it. So that is the case.
Dessers impresses Clement and James Tavernier.
Despite transfer rumors, Cyriel Dessers has made a strong impact at Rangers this week.
Philippe Clement, who scored a fantastic solo goal after coming off the bench against Aberdeen, feels that the striker’s quality has always been visible during his time at Rangers.
“It shows what I’ve been seeing all the time that I’m here,” said Clement. “Cyriel is a really great character to have in the dressing room in the team. Always works hard.
“Of course he’s not happy if he cannot get more minutes like he had in the past to play that many minutes but that’s football at the highest level, it’s competition and he kept on working, he kept on fighting.
“That’s why he’s ready also to play these games and to score a hat-trick. So that’s what you want to see.”
Cyriel Dessers’ performance also wasn’t missed by Rangers captain James Tavernier come full-time at Ibrox.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s live coverage of the Scottish Cup clash, Tavernier heaped praise on the hitman for ‘rising above’ the at-times over the top criticism.
”Very pleased,” said Tavernier. “Also he got an assist.
”I saw Clinton got man of the match in the stadium, he had a great game as well today.
”Cyriel has always continued to work hard since he first joined us and he rises above it and yeah, I’m really pleased for him to get his rewards today.”
Whilst Cyriel Dessers walked away with the match ball at full-time, it might’ve been quite different had the striker dwelled on a glaring first-half opportunity.
With the score at 0-0, Cyriel Dessers kicked the ball back where it came from when it looked easier to score, the moment another big miss in a highlight reel of them at Rangers.
Speaking about the chance with BBC Scotland at full-time, Dessers insists the opportunity was offside anyway and that it is quite simply ‘the life of a striker’.
”It’s nothing about me,” said Dessers. “That’s the life of a striker.
”You will miss some chances. The first one was offside as well.
”You just have to stay in the game then I know chances will come, then I have to make the next one.”
