Rangers are now well-placed to sign an “excellent” English striker as they search for replacements for Cyriel Dessers, according to a report.
Gers planning for the summer
Although hopes of winning the Scottish Premiership have long since faded, there is still a lot to play for this season, with Rangers booking their place in the Europa League quarter-final after a penalty shootout victory over Fenerbahce on Thursday night.
However, the Gers must try and bridge the gap to Celtic in the league next season, and they are now starting to make plans for the summer, at which point their first priority is likely to be bringing in a new permanent manager.
Rafa Benitez and Russell Martin are among the names most recently linked with a move to Ibrox this summer, at which point there could also be a revamp of the squad.
Worry for Rangers as European giants plan £8.3m bid for "brilliant" star
This would be a big blow for the Gers.
ByHenry JacksonMar 14, 2025
There have recently been suggestions that Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane could depart in the summer, and the latter’s potential exit, coupled with the doubt over Dessers’ future, means it may be imperative to bring in a new striker.
According to a report from Football Insider, Rangers are now looking at St Mirren striker Toyosi Olusanya as a replacement for Dessers, and they are well-placed to get a deal done.
The Gers are willing to sell Dessers in the summer, and Olusanya is at the top of the list of potential replacements, having performed well at Ibrox earlier in the campaign, scoring in his side’s 2-0 victory back in February. The St Mirren star is viewed as a player who would tick lots of boxes, irrespective of who is brought in to replace Barry Ferguson this summer.
"Excellent" Olusanya impressing for St Mirren
The 27-year-old has been on quite a journey, spending a lot of time in the English lower leagues before making the move to St Mirren, and a move to Ibrox would be by far his biggest transfer to date. The London-born forward has already eclipsed his goal tally from last season, netting 12 times in all competitions, and he has received high praise from manager Stephen Robinson.
“He missed a chance last week. He missed a penalty. He showed great character and bravery. For anybody who takes a penalty credit to them, he stepped up. Our penalty taker had gone off at the time.
“For a player, you miss a penalty, you miss a penalty. He’s shown a great response to that with two great goals. His movement was excellent and he gave us a comfortable lead.”
However, there are doubts over whether the Englishman is at the level to be a real upgrade on Dessers, considering this is his first majorly impressive season in front of goal, so Rangers should continue to monitor his performances between now and the summer.