Sky Sports pundit Dan Bardell has issued a warning to Rangers regarding the potential sale of Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers.

Recent reports have linked the Belgian-born striker with a move to Greek champions PAOK, who are eager to strengthen their attacking lineup ahead of the new season.

Dessers had a mixed debut season at Ibrox, facing scrutiny particularly in the initial stages of the campaign. Despite high expectations following Alfredo Morelos’s departure, he initially struggled to make a significant impact with the fans.

However, under manager Phillipe Clement’s guidance from October onwards, Dessers found his form, scoring five goals and providing three assists in his first 10 league appearances. His pivotal performance included a brace in the Scottish FA Cup semifinal against Hearts, although Rangers ultimately fell short against Celtic in the final.

Following their second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, there have been calls for Rangers to recruit a striker better than Dessers to mount a stronger challenge against Celtic next season.

Speaking to Ibrox News, Bardell expressed reservations about Rangers letting go of the Nigerian international, stressing the difficulty of replacing a proven goalscorer.

“It’s always risky to sell a player who has demonstrated his ability to score goals. Losing Dessers would mean a significant reduction in their goal threat,” Bardell cautioned.

“Finding a replacement forward comes with no guarantees of improvement. The market for number nines is highly competitive, making it tougher than ever to secure a suitable replacement. Rangers must proceed with caution.”

Dessers, who topped the UEFA Europa Conference League scoring charts once, amassed a total of 22 goals across all competitions last season.