Neil Lennon has revealed that he wanted to sign Cyriel Dessers for Celtic.
The Nigerian has filled the striking hole left at Rangers by Alfredo Morelos after joining Michael Beale’s rebuild in a £4.5million switch from Cremonese and is expected to lead the line for the Light Blues this term. But he could have been playing on the other side of Glasgow before now had Lennon gotten his way.
He was Celtic boss during the 2019/20 season in which Dessers struck 15 goals for Heracles before the Eredivisie season was abandoned due to Covid. He was jointly-awarded the golden boot alongside Steven Berghuis, then of Feyenoord. Lennon liked what he saw from Dessers, but the striker moved to Belgian side Genk that summer on a four-year deal. But now, after Cremonese’s relegation from the Italian top flight last season, he’s landed at Rangers as Beale hopes he can spearhead their title charge.
“I watched him when he was at Heracles and he was the leading goalscorer in the Dutch league that season,” Lennon told Go Radio. “He’s a big, powerful player with a little bit of technique sometimes, with the soft feet.
“But he’s a goalscorer and I think at £4.5million he could be a great bit of business for Rangers. They needed a striker and they’ve got one in the building now.
“He was one of the players that came up. You’ve many, many options in that position and Cyriel was one of them. He went on to Cremonese for a while.
“But his goal record is good and he's a physical type. Quick, strong as has a goal in him. For £4.5million, that’s decent business.”
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