Alious
Glasgow Rangers have officially announced that Kevin Thelwell will step into the role of sporting director beginning with the 2025/26 season, following the expiration of his Everton contract. Speaking to the club’s website, Thelwell expressed his excitement about joining such an ambitious institution, hinting that significant changes could be on the horizon for the playing squad.
Those remarks suggest that squad overhauls are inevitable as Thelwell looks to align the team’s quality with the club’s lofty aspirations. With Rangers falling short of silverware again this season—highlighted by their Europa League exit to Athletic Bilbao—several players could soon find themselves surplus to requirements.
Among those facing an uncertain future is striker Cyriel Dessers, whose time at Ibrox has been a rollercoaster since his £4.3m move from Cremonese last summer.
### Why Rangers Must Move on From Cyriel Dessers
On the surface, Dessers’ tally of 29 Premiership goals since joining Rangers may appear respectable. However, a deeper dive into the numbers reveals a far less flattering reality. The Nigerian forward has squandered an alarming 47 big chances in the league, illustrating a severe lack of composure and efficiency in crucial moments.
This wastefulness has undermined Rangers in key games, making Dessers an unreliable figure in the final third. His struggles have not been confined to domestic competition either. In the Europa League, the 30-year-old has mustered just four goals across 19 appearances, missing ten clear chances in the process.
While he has produced occasional moments of brilliance, the evidence overwhelmingly points to a striker who cannot be trusted to deliver consistently at a club pushing for trophies. As Thelwell sets about shaping a more ruthless Rangers, cutting ties with Dessers should be near the top of his agenda.
### However, One Signing Has Been Even Worse: Nedim Bajrami
If Dessers’ time in Glasgow has been frustrating, Nedim Bajrami’s stint has been downright disastrous. The £3.4m signing from Sassuolo was expected to make an immediate impact, arriving at the peak of his career. Yet, Bajrami has been a major disappointment.
Across 36 matches in the Premiership and Europa League this season, the Albanian international has managed just three goals and a single assist—a dismal return for a player billed as a key creative force. In his last 13 appearances, he has scored once and failed to register a single assist, offering little threat in attack and providing minimal resistance defensively.
Despite similar transfer fees, Dessers at least contributed goals, whereas Bajrami has failed to leave any meaningful imprint. His £12k-a-week salary has yielded very little return, making him arguably a worse investment than Dessers.
### A Clear First Step for Thelwell: Axe Bajrami Immediately
To build a squad capable of challenging for silverware, Thelwell must be ruthless. Bajrami’s underwhelming performances make him an obvious candidate for an early summer exit. Offloading him would free up both a squad spot and valuable wages, allowing Rangers to recruit a more impactful attacker.
Moving on from Bajrami quickly would send a strong message to the rest of the squad and supporters: underperformance will no longer be tolerated. It would also give the incoming manager a better foundation to launch a genuine title challenge next season.
Alious
