Horneland Focused on Current Squad Amid Transfer Speculations

New Saint-Étienne manager Eirik Horneland has poured cold water on rumors linking the French club to Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers, signaling that a January move is unlikely.

Facing a tough relegation battle, Saint-Étienne have struggled offensively this season, managing just 12 goals in Ligue 1—one of the lowest tallies in the league. This has sparked speculation about potential reinforcements, with the Nigerian forward Dessers among the names reportedly on their radar.

However, Horneland, who recently replaced Olivier Dall’Oglio as head coach, has made it clear that his priority is maximizing the potential of the current squad rather than diving into the transfer market. Speaking to L’Équipe via Rangers News, he outlined his philosophy:

“We want to be a proactive team that attacks quickly while staying solid defensively. I believe we can achieve this with the players we already have and the support of the fans. For now, I am focused on understanding the team and building an offensive style of play that matches the club’s expectations.”

The manager further stated, “I’m not interested in the transfer window at the moment. My priority is getting to know the players, listening to them, and working with what we have to improve performances immediately.”

Dessers, who has struggled for game time at Rangers, has fallen down the pecking order under manager Philippe Clement. With Hamza Igamane hitting form and Brazilian forward Danilo earning Clement’s trust, the Nigerian striker has seen limited opportunities, leading to speculation about a potential departure.

Despite his availability, Horneland’s remarks suggest that Saint-Étienne will likely look within to solve their goal-scoring woes, leaving Dessers’ future at Rangers uncertain as the January window approaches.