Nicolas Raskin wants to quit Standard Liege, Rangers want him after £16.9m financial boost
Rangers are looking to use their new-found Champions League cash to sign Standard Liege midfielder Nicolas Raskin, according to Sud Info.
The Belgian news outlet reported via their website on Thursday (25 August) that Raskin, 21, “is still looking for a way out” out of Liege with his contract due to expire next year.
It is understood there are a number of players at Liege who are looking to leave and that led to “a delegation of players” speaking with manager Ronny Deila, formerly of Celtic, to “underline the negative impact that the situation had on the performance of the team”.
Sud Info adds that Raskin’s desire to quit Standard means he could head to Rangers, who have hit the jackpot after qualifying for the Champions League group stages this week.
Speaking to Ibrox News on 18 August, football finance expert Dan Plumley said reaching the group stages, where the Gers will play Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli, will boost their coffers by £16.9million.
Another midfielder?
Do Rangers need another central midfield option?
Raskin plays in a central or holding role in the middle of the park but Giovanni van Bronckhorst currently has a surplus in that area.
John Lundstram, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and Steven Davis can all slot in that role so it’s hardly a weak point in the squad given those four players are among the best in the Scottish Premiership.
Raskin won’t come cheap, either.
Het Nieuwsblad reports Raskin is valued at £4.6million so if that price is met, it would sink around a quarter of what was earned by qualifying for the Champions League group stages before wages, bonuses and so on are met.
Raskin is, however, a young and talented player who could be worth way more than in the future.
If we sign him, it could mean that a player like Davis is shoved out to the fringes of the squad and makes his contract extension even more nonsensical than it already was.
Raskin, a Belgium Under-21 international, would be a good addition in that case but wouldn’t it be best to use funds on a new striker first due to what’s going on with Alfredo Morelos?
In other Rangers news, Dutch newspapers reacted dramatically to the Gers’ win over PSV in the Champions League.