Philippe Clement snaps at 'Really Strange' question about exit-linked Rangers ace

Philippe Clement cut off a question about Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers’ form ahead of the Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv.

The Belgian wasn’t impressed with the enquiry directed to Leon Balogun beside him in their pre-match press conference [Rangers Review] on 5 August, branding it a “really strange question” after the defender was asked if he was confident the exit-linked striker would start scoring goals.

The Nigerian international led the line in the goalless draw with Hearts on 3 August after scoring 22 goals last term but the Light Blues are reportedly willing to sell him if the right offer comes in with various clubs interested abroad [Rangers Review, 3 July].

Clement cut in as the question was being asked to say: “I think that’s a really strange question to be honest”.

“What do you expect me to say?” Balogun added. “What do you mean ‘how confident am I that he starts scoring?’ I think he’s scored quite an amount of goals for us already and the season just started only last weekend so I don’t really know what you’re getting at.”

Leon Balogun backs Rangers striker

Balogun is never going to say anything to suggest he doesn’t have confidence in Dessers to lead the line for the Light Blues, even as fans and pundits might feel differently.

The striker has arguably demonstrated that he isn’t up to standard as a regular first choice at Ibrox but he has done more than any of the other number nines around him since he arrived at the club.

It’s not actually Dessers’ fault that the finances and the fitness of others have left him as the leading option and he has probably performed to the best of his abilities in that time.

As a back-up he would therefore still be a useful member of Clement’s squad but it is true that a proven scorer looks to be needed.

Whether Danilo can return to fitness to be that remains to be seen but the pursuit of a new senior striker option has proven fruitless so far.

Lawrence Shankland is one name who remains in question as Clement is reportedly now considering a move [Daily Record, 29 July], and he failed to find the net at Tynecastle as well and there is no question about his ability to score in the Scottish Premiership.

If a suitable deal is put on the table to sell Dessers the club may well take it to fund a replacement, but the manager is probably as frustrated as any observer that he is largely operating with the same unit as last term right now.

In other Rangers news, a bargain return of a former Ibrox ace has been mooted, he wanted to stay in the first place.

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