Rangers push on in Nicolas Raskin talks, had previously wanted to sell Glen Kamara to fund move
Rangers are continuing in talks for Nicolas Raskin despite a rejected bid as the club want “pace and tricks” and he fits the bill, according to Football Scotland.
The 21-year-old midfielder is a long-term target at Ibrox and with him having just six months left on his contract and being left to train with the reserves in Belgium the Gers are looking to take advantage.
Football Scotland report that the club had “hoped” to sell Glen Kamara in order to fund a move for Raskin while Giovanni van Bronckhorst was in charge.
Kamara was in line for a move to France in the summer, but nothing ever materialised and the club are hoping he can recover his form and transfer value at Ibrox [The Athletic 26 December].
They are now pushing to make Raskin Michael Beale’s second signing after Todd Cantwell arrived from Norwich, but suggestions from Belgium that the young midfielder has already passed a medical in Glasgow are being roundly rejected in Scottish reports.
The first Rangers offer, reported to be in the “high six figures” [Daily Record, 26 January], has been rejected because Standard Liege want more for him and negotiations continue for the deal.
Almost there
It makes sense for all parties to get this deal done before the close of the window so if one or both sides can swallow some pride and compromise Raskin should arrive at Ibrox before the deadline passes.
Pace and tricks isn’t what Kamara offers so the previous plan to sell one and acquire the other certainly wasn’t a like for like.
But if that’s what Rangers envisage Raskin providing from central midfield it should certainly improve the dynamism of the position.
With Kamara, John Lundstram and Ryan Jack in central areas the midfield is usually pretty solid but can lack a cutting edge, so if Raskin can be secured this month, and can potentially link up with Malik Tillman further forward, then the side should be able to break down stubborn defences better.
The Rangers hierarchy were able to negotiate a very similar situation in relation to contracts and long-term prospects at his previous club to get Cantwell’s move completed so there should be a decent chance of a repeat here.
Raskin has long been linked to Ibrox and now looks like the best opportunity to get him in for a fee that isn’t prohibitive so the final days will be watched closely.
In other Rangers news, one club figure is leaving next month to a foreign side, the move has been green-lit already.