'My Goodness Man' - Pundit 'Happy' big-money Rangers exit has collapsed

Rangers can no longer lose Cyriel Dessers before the transfer window shuts because Philippe Clement doesn’t have alternatives to turn to, says Derek Ferguson.

Italian journalist Luca Bendoni reported on 20 August that the Nigerian international had turned down a move to Atlanta United in MLS over a personal terms when a deal with the Light Blues worth $6million [£4.5m] had been “close”.

But while Ferguson accepts Dessers has his flaws and splits opinion among the fanbase he is glad that transfer collapsed, because the 29-year-old is the only regularly-fit source of goals up front.

And with the first Old Firm derby away at Celtic on the way on 1 September once the window shuts he feels Philippe Clement’s side would have no chance without the striker available.

“Clearly we can’t lose him. We’ve got nobody else to turn to,” he exclusively told Ibrox News.

“Danilo has come in, but Dessers is Marmite. You either love him or you hate him. 

“I think the reason the Rangers fans have maybe struggled with Dessers is his first three months he was woeful to be honest, he really, really struggled.

“But to be fair to the guy he stuck at it, he works away, he scored 22 goals last season. Yeah he misses quite a number of chances.

“At times you’re tearing your hair out but sometimes you go, ‘Oof there’s a player there,’ and then he goes and does a wee silly thing.

“But at the moment he’s our only recognised centre-forward, he’s the only guy that’s banging in goals, he’s one of the few players at Rangers the plays 90 minutes and is always available.

“So for me I was quite happy that that deal didn’t go through. Again, the Rangers support are divided on Dessers but for me we can’t afford to lose him at the moment.

“Because if you’re going into a game against Celtic without a fit and recognised centre-forward then my goodness man, we’re gonna really struggle.”

Danilo and Hamza Igamane can’t carry Rangers

It is a measure of how the transfer window hasn’t panned out how many would have hoped that not only is Dessers still leading the line for Clement but it would be a major risk for him to leave.

Danilo may have scored his first of the season in the 6-0 route of Ross County but his struggle to return from major injuries last season has left pundits concerned [Kris Boyd, 19 August].

And Hamza Igamane has not even been seen on the bench yet after his summer arrival, with Clement indicating on 23 August he is only now finally nearing a debut.

If a deal for Dessers had been in the offing a month ago amid internal discussions over a bid for Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland [Daily Record, 29 July] an exit would have made sense to fund more business, but with so little time for a replacement it would be a huge risk now.

In other Ranger news, a club have refused to play an Ibrox-linked ace after he put in a transfer request.

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