Kenny Miller has shared his thoughts on the future of Rangers' striker options following Hamza Igamane's recent arrival.
He believes that while Igamane has the potential to become a legendary number nine at Ibrox, it would be unfair to ask the 21-year-old to shoulder that vast responsibility right now.
Miller, who played almost 300 times for the Light Blues across three spells, suggests that Rangers should instead look to sign another experienced centre-forward to compliment the Moroccan youth star in the current transfer window, even if it means parting ways with Cyriel Dessers.
Miller noted that despite Dessers' return of 23 goals last season, his overall performances may not have been as impressive, leading to criticism from supporters.
However, the sheer number of goals scored for a club of Rangers' stature has attracted interest from other teams, and Miller feels that if Rangers were to let either Dessers or Danilo go this summer, it would likely be Dessers.
"Hamza Igamane might make Rangers a lot of money in the future," Miller wrote in his Daily Record column. "He could go on to become a legendary No.9 at Ibrox. But right now, to ask a 21-year-old Moroccan kid to take the weight of that jersey on his shoulders?
"That would just be unfair. And that’s why, irrespective of Igamane arriving on Friday, I still expect Philippe Clement to sign another centre-forward in this transfer window. That might mean Cyriel Dessers leaving the club. There are plenty of rumours going around about teams being interested and his potential departure.
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"I’ve always felt that if Rangers were going to let either him or Danilo go this summer, it would be Dessers. Just because of his goal return last season. His performances might not have been brilliant and the big man took his fair share of criticism from supporters. But scoring 23 goals for a club the size of Rangers is always going to catch people’s eye so it doesn’t surprise me there’s speculation.
"If I was the manager, I’d be holding on to Dessers until a replacement is found. And by that, I don’t mean Igamane. I’m talking about a proper, tried-and-tested striker with experience behind him.
"Dare I say it, like Lawrence Shankland, for example. In January, I stated that Rangers had to sign a proven frontman to get them over the line in the title race. They didn’t – and we know what happened after that.
"Igamane’s signing might be inspired. He’s clearly a talented boy with an eye for goal. But going from Moroccan football to Rangers and the Glasgow goldfish bowl at his age will be a huge challenge for him.
"Apparently, he doesn’t speak the language, which is a huge thing for any player coming into this country. This acquisition reminds me a bit of when the club plucked Alfredo Morelos from relative obscurity in the Finnish league. I was in the Rangers dressing-room at the time and it was difficult for Alfredo to settle early on.
"He also didn’t speak any English but luckily for him we had a few players at the club at that time who helped him. The likes of Bruno Alves and Daniel Candeias took him under their wing. Morelos arrived as an unknown for £1million and would go on to become Rangers’ all-time top European goalscorer.
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"It proved to be a shrewd bit of business, even if he was allowed to leave for free a year ago. But when Alfredo first arrived, he needed help and time. We could see he had all the raw attributes to be a good player. He always had that brute strength and aggression. But he didn’t start games immediately.
"We eventually teamed up together to get him his first goal for Rangers in a League Cup tie against Dunfermline – and from there he kicked on. We don’t know too much about Igamane but there are definite similarities between the pair. And he’ll need a settling-in period too.
"It’s tough for any young boy going into a new dressing-room. I experienced it myself at Rangers and Wolves. But it’s especially hard for a lad coming from a different country and culture.
"Pre-season will be crucial for him because that’s when the players have real bonding time. The manager will want to have them integrated as best he can before the first game of the new campaign. Rangers must put up a title challenge to Celtic this season and, for me, to do that they’ll need a ready-made goalscorer.
"That’s why, if Dessers goes, I’d expect to see someone else come in to complement Igamane and Danilo who are already in the building."
