Rangers manager Russell Martin has confirmed that an official bid has been submitted for Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers, following his side’s 1-1 draw against Motherwell on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership.
Rangers appeared on course to claim all three points at Fir Park, but a late equaliser from Motherwell denied them victory and left Martin visibly frustrated at full time.
The result, which immediately puts early pressure on Rangers in their title race against long-standing rivals Celtic, prompted a scathing post-match reaction from the English coach.
“We were lucky to even get a point,” Martin told Sky Sports. “We weren’t good enough, not even close. That disappoints me enormously. Motherwell were braver, hungrier.
At this club, you cannot hide when things aren’t going well. That attitude doesn’t belong here. I’m surprised—and more than that, I’m angry.”
The Rangers boss was quick to shift focus from tactics to mentality, expressing concern about his squad’s commitment and mental resilience in a league where consistency is essential.
“I want courageous players, not guys dragging their feet,” he said. “Some players need to put their egos aside. We’ll look at our tactical setup, yes, but today wasn’t about tactics—it was about mentality.”
In an unexpected twist, Martin singled out Cyriel Dessers for praise—despite recent transfer speculation swirling around the Nigerian international.
“Cyriel works hard, whether he’s starting or coming off the bench. He was committed on Wednesday night and again today,” the manager said. “He’s the only player we’ve received a formal offer for, and frankly, some others in the squad should start following his example.”
Martin stopped short of disclosing the identity of the club interested in acquiring the 29-year-old forward, but his confirmation of the bid has added fuel to ongoing speculation in the Scottish and European press.
Dessers joined Rangers from Cremonese last summer and has endured a mixed spell in Glasgow. While his work rate has never been questioned, his goal return has drawn criticism in sections of the media.
However, his professionalism and effort have clearly left an impression on his manager.
The news of a possible departure comes at a delicate time for Rangers, who are set to face Czech side Viktoria Plzeň in a crucial UEFA Champions League qualifying tie on Tuesday.
Martin will be hoping his squad can quickly regroup and rediscover the intensity required to compete on both domestic and European fronts.
As questions continue to swirl around the future of one of their key forwards, the coming days could prove pivotal—not only for Cyriel Dessers, but for a Rangers side that has started the season under scrutiny and already faces mounting expectations.
