Football: Major update as AEK close in on summer transfer for Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
AEK set sights on Dessers this summer
After ending the 2023-24 Super League Greece 1 season in second place, AEK Athens were unable to follow up on that result last season, slipping to fourth place in the standings, 22 points behind eventual champions Olympiacos. You can follow the Greek top flight using our football livescore tool.
As a result, AEK have made signing a top-quality centre-forward to boost their attacking output one of their primary goals this summer, and Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers is believed to be high up on their wishlist of potential options.
The Nigerian international, who joined the Gers from Italian Serie B outfit Cremonese in 2023 for around €5m, has been in fine form since arriving at the Ibrox Stadium, netting 50 goals, while providing 16 assists across all competitions.
Last season, the 30-year-old forward found the back of the net an incredible 28 times and set up a further seven, which saw him awarded the Golden Boot in the Scottish Premiership. Dessers’ impressive form also put him on the radar of clubs in Italy and Spain during the January transfer window, but he opted to stay put.
However, Rangers ended the season trophyless and underwent a major change in ownership and team leadership, with Russell Martin being brought in as the new manager. The club were expected to make significant changes in the summer transfer market, and Dessers seems to be one on the chopping block despite his performance last term.
Reports out of Greece last week suggested that the Super Eagles attacker had already agreed to personal terms on a three-year contract with AEK for a fee understood to be in the region of €5m - the same amount the Glasgow side paid for him a couple of years ago.
Marko Nikolic discusses Dessers’ links and delay
Amid the links between Dessers and AEK, a separate report earlier this week indicated that a move to Greece for the Nigerian may have hit a few hurdles, with the first being the transfer fee offered for his services by the Athens-based club.
It is understood that there is around a €1m discrepancy between what AEK is willing to pay and what Rangers is willing to accept. Additionally, AEK’s current striker, Niclas Eliasson, scored a hat-trick in pre-season, which many suggest may have led to Marko Nikolic shifting focus and prioritising other positions in his setup.
Nikolic was quizzed about his club’s lack of activity so far in the transfer window and if he was concerned that they had not secured a new striker in a recent media interview. He said:
“No, because in attack we are good with Zini, Pierrot, Martial and even Eliasson. We are working on the left-back, but we have time. Full-backs on the market are always a difficult matter. It is not a big issue, we are also looking for a player for another position.”
Dessers' current contract at the Ibrox runs until 2027, and while a move away this summer is not completely off the table just yet, the Nigerian international has expressed his desire to help the Glasgow giants win a trophy.
