Rangers have replaced Cyriel Dessers with a £10M rookie in a big gamble | OneFootball

Rangers’ decision to sell Cyriel Dessers to Panathinaikos for around €4m has left fans stunned and divided. The Nigerian striker, linked with Greece all summer, had seemed certain to stay after telling a supporter online, “Looks like I’m staying, huh?” Yet weeks later he is gone. It was followed by the gamble of signing Youssef Chermiti for £10M.

The shock of Chermiti

The bigger shock is his replacement. Youssef Chermiti, arriving from Everton for £8m rising to £10m, is one of the most bizarre Rangers signings ever. It echoes the madness of Tore André Flo’s £12m deal in 1999, which still stands as Scotland’s transfer record. Celtic’s £11m splash last year looked strange too, but they could afford it. Rangers, however, rarely operate in that sphere.

Risk versus reward

The most expensive signing since Flo had been Ryan Kent in 2019 for £7.5m. To leap to £10m for a raw 21-year-old is staggering. Chermiti has never scored in the Premier League. He was a bit-part player at Everton, and his CV hardly screams ready-made striker. Some fans hail him as a gem, with even a few Everton supporters backing him, but the gamble is massive.

Comparisons and concerns

The deal recalls Wolves’ £35m punt on a certain Fabio Silva, signed on youth promise alone. That gamble backfired. Rangers may not have set a club record, but they still threw huge money at potential rather than proven ability. Replacing Scotland’s top scorer with someone who barely found the net last season defies logic.

Financial context

Yes, Rangers made around £25m from sales, so the net spend sits near £10m. Yet blowing the bulk of it on an unproven kid remains baffling. Dessers may have split opinion, but he scored goals. Now Rangers trust a player who hasn’t. Fans are right to be sceptical. Chermiti has enormous pressure on his shoulders, and he must prove he is worth every penny. It’s a gamble of signing Youssef Chermiti for £10M.