Glasgow Rangers have officially announced that Kevin Thelwell will become the club’s new sporting director ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The 51-year-old will join the Ibrox side once his current deal with Premier League outfit Everton concludes at the end of the season.
Speaking in his first interview with the club’s official website, Thelwell said: “From the first conversations, it was clear to me how ambitious the club is, and I’m excited to play a part in shaping its next chapter.”
While this comment could be interpreted in a number of ways, it strongly hints that changes to the playing squad could be on the horizon this summer to match the club’s ambitions.
Thelwell will have the opportunity to reshape the team, which exited the Europa League at the quarter-final stage following defeat to Athletic Bilbao, potentially overseeing a major overhaul that could see some underperforming players moved on.
One player who may find himself at risk when Thelwell takes charge is striker Cyriel Dessers.
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Why Rangers Should Cash In on Cyriel Dessers
Signed from Cremonese for a reported £4.3m under Michael Beale ahead of the 2023/24 season, Dessers has had a mixed spell at Ibrox.
On the surface, the Nigeria international’s return of 29 Scottish Premiership goals since the start of last season appears respectable. However, a deeper dive into the statistics reveals concerns about his overall effectiveness.
Dessers has missed an astonishing 47 ‘big chances’ across that period, suggesting he has been highly wasteful with the high-quality opportunities created for him. His lack of composure in front of goal has made him a liability in key moments, undermining Rangers’ attacking play.
Cyriel Dessers (Premiership stats):
(Stats via Sofascore)
Dessers’ struggles haven’t been limited to domestic competition. In the Europa League, he has scored just four goals while missing ten ‘big chances’ in 19 appearances since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, once again highlighting his inefficiency.
Although he has produced some moments of quality, as his goal tally suggests, Dessers has proven unreliable over a full season when leading the line for a title-challenging team.
Given his wastefulness, Thelwell should consider moving him on to open the door for a more clinical number nine to arrive this summer.
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Thelwell Could Land an Early Masterstroke by Moving on an Even Worse Signing
Beyond Dessers, Thelwell could make an even bigger impact by offloading another struggling signing: Nedim Bajrami.
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Why Thelwell Should Sell Nedim Bajrami
If Rangers are serious about matching their lofty ambitions, players who have underperformed must be shown the door.
Bajrami, who joined from Sassuolo for a reported £3.4m in the summer of 2024, has struggled badly to justify his transfer fee.
In 36 appearances across the Premiership and Europa League this season, the Albania international has managed just three goals and one assist — a dismal return for an attacking midfielder or winger.
At 26 years old, Bajrami arrived at Ibrox in what should be the peak years of his career. Therefore, it’s fair to have expected immediate impact, but he has fallen well short.
Over his last 13 appearances in all competitions, he has scored only once and registered no assists, while also reportedly earning £12k per week.
Nedim Bajrami (2024/25 Premiership stats):
(Stats via Sofascore)
Bajrami has failed to cement a starting spot under both Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson, while also struggling in duels defensively.
Compared to Dessers — who, despite his flaws, has delivered 29 goals — Bajrami has offered even less value for money, making him arguably an even bigger disappointment.
Thus, Thelwell would be wise to make Bajrami’s departure one of his first moves as sporting director. Doing so could free up valuable resources and a squad spot for a more productive attacking option — potentially a major boost to the team’s prospects for next season.
Worse signing than Dessers: Thelwell can seal instant Rangers blinder by binning flop – opinion
