Godwin ObajeRangers Eye Profit as Cyriel Dessers Nears Ibrox Exit Amid Summer Rebuild
Rangers could be set to make a profit on Cyriel Dessers as the striker edges closer to a potential Ibrox exit, with Greek side AEK Athens preparing a second bid following a rejected opening offer.
The 30-year-old Nigerian international finished last season as the Scottish Premiership’s top goalscorer and clinched the Golden Boot, yet his future in Glasgow is now uncertain as the Russell Martin era takes shape. Despite his output — 29 goals across all competitions — Dessers has divided opinion among fans and may now be allowed to leave if the price is right.
With Rangers balancing recruitment against financial prudence amid Champions League qualifiers and the arrival of new manager Martin, tough decisions are being made behind the scenes. The club has already confirmed the signing of Lyall Cameron and is poised to unveil Bournemouth’s Max Aarons on a season-long loan as their second addition of the summer.
Dessers’ potential sale could further support the club’s transfer plans, with Ibrox chiefs reportedly seeking a fee in excess of the £4.5 million they spent to bring him from Cremonese in 2023. According to football finance expert Dan Plumley, Rangers are now in a position where making a profit on the striker would be considered smart business.
“Yes, I think you’re absolutely right on taking into account the behind-the-scenes stuff,” Plumley told Ibrox News. “It’s not as easy as just looking at the transfer fee you bought the player for, and what you’re selling for, because you’ve got the amortisation fee and the wage costs.”
Dessers signed a four-year deal upon arriving at Ibrox and is now halfway through that contract. Plumley explained that Rangers would have already amortised a significant portion of the original fee, reducing the striker’s book value and therefore increasing the chance of turning a profit with a £5 million sale.
“You’ve got the expense behind the scenes, and that figure was undisclosed at the time, but rumoured to be £4.5million,” he added. “He signed a four-year contract, and we’re two years into that, so you’ve got the amortisation aspect, and the net value of him then falls somewhere in the £2million plus mark.”
Plumley continued: “If you’ve bought that player at 28 years old, for £4.5million on a four-year deal, and two years on, you’re looking to recoup £5million for a 30-year-old, that feels like a good deal in the context of the market.”
Rangers are not expected to adopt a lavish spending strategy this summer. The focus instead appears to be on smart deals, player development, and trimming the wage bill — particularly ahead of a crucial Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos, which could bring a much-needed financial windfall.
With another AEK bid expected and no shortage of interest from abroad, Rangers now face a key decision over Dessers’ future. Whether or not he stays, his departure could be the first of several in what promises to be a busy summer at Ibrox.
Godwin Obaje
