Philippe Clement admits Dessers could leave Rangers as Fraserburgh treble doesn't stop the 'difficult' question

Philippe Clement watched Cyriel Dessers fire his first Rangers hat-trick - then admitted the striker could be on the way out of Ibrox.

The enigmatic hitman bounced back from a horrible early sitter to claim the match-ball as his treble helped Gers ease past Fraserburgh into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. But it comes after Dessers admitted this week he is looking to have talks with Gers chiefs on his future after losing his place to Hamza Igamane.

Clement did not rule out the possibility of the Nigerian - now Scotland’s joint top scorer with 16 goals - departing this month. But he insists the 30-year-old will only be allowed to leave if Gers can first source someone to take his place. He said: “Cyriel is a really great character to have in the dressing room, in the team. He always works hard. Of course, he's not happy if he cannot get more minutes like he had in the past to play that many minutes. But that's football at the highest level.

“It's competition. But he kept on working, he kept on fighting. That's why he's ready also to play these games and to score a hat-trick then. So, that's what you want to see.

“We have discussions at least every week. We talk all the time. I think Cyriel shows that he has desire to do everything for this club. And, of course, he wants to play every game.

“It's then showing that you're the best. That's working at Rangers. He knows that also really well. So, that's the situation for the moment.”

Asked if he would like Dessers to stay at Ibrox beyond this month’s transfer window, the Rangers boss replied: “It's a difficult question, that one. If Cyriel goes, you need to replace him. And it needs to be at least the same quality. If a player stays and he plays less and he becomes, because