AliousEarlier this year, Glasgow Rangers decided to part ways with Philippe Clement as their manager at Ibrox, bringing in Barry Ferguson to take the reins temporarily until the season’s end. Under Ferguson’s leadership, the team—known as the Light Blues—has enjoyed a strong run, securing victories in four out of five matches (including penalty shootouts), with a standout triumph against Celtic in their most recent Scottish Premiership clash.
This managerial shift has sparked notable performances from several squad members, particularly Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny, who have seized the opportunity to shine.
Among the players thriving under Ferguson, Vaclav Cerny, on loan from Wolfsburg, has been a revelation all season, notching 11 goals in the league. Since Ferguson took charge, the £7.5m-rated forward (per Transfermarkt) has added three goals in five appearances, consistently menacing opposition defenses.
His inevitable return to the Bundesliga this summer will leave a void at Rangers, given his flair for finding the net. Meanwhile, Cyriel Dessers has undergone a remarkable resurgence.
The Nigerian striker, valued at £3.3m by Transfermarkt, managed just one goal in six games toward the end of Clement’s tenure.
Under Ferguson, however, he’s erupted for four goals and an assist in five outings, a clear sign that the new manager has unlocked his peak form. Together, Cerny and Dessers boast a combined valuation of £10.8m—yet this figure pales in comparison to one former Rangers standout.
That standout is Calvin Bassey, a dynamic defender sold to Ajax for £19.6m in 2022 during Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s time at the helm. Bassey, lauded as “explosive” by ex-coach Steve Beaglehole, featured 65 times for Rangers before his departure. After a single season in Amsterdam, Ajax offloaded the Nigerian international to Fulham for £19.3m—a slight loss—when his Transfermarkt value stood at £12.5m.
Since joining the Cottagers, Bassey has become a mainstay in the Premier League, excelling in physical battles and elevating his market value to an impressive £20.9m. This surge reflects his stellar play in England’s top flight, dwarfing the fees Ajax and Fulham paid and marking a steep climb from his 2013 valuation.
For Rangers, Bassey’s current worth—nearly double that of Cerny and Dessers combined—prompts reflection. Having sold him after reaching the 2022 Europa League final, the club might now question whether they maximized his transfer fee.
His trajectory since leaving Ibrox underscores a missed opportunity to cash in on a player whose value has soared over time.
Alious
