NafisaRangers have been forced to deal with an unwanted distraction at a crucial stage of their season, with the future of one of their most important midfielders suddenly becoming a talking point.
The transfer window may have closed in Scotland, but clubs elsewhere in Europe are still able to conduct business, leaving the door open for late approaches that could unsettle players and managers alike.
That has been particularly relevant to Rangers, who have already made it clear that they do not want to lose key members of their squad after investing heavily in rebuilding the team.
Nico Raskin has found himself at the centre of that uncertainty, with interest from Turkey threatening to turn what had been a settled situation into another late-window headache for Derek McInnes.
The Belgian midfielder was the subject of an approach from Besiktas, who reportedly wanted to take him on loan with a view to making the move permanent.
The proposal included a £12million option to buy, but Rangers quickly rejected the idea, while Raskin himself was also understood to have no desire to pursue the move.
However, reports from Istanbul suggested Besiktas were not prepared to walk away quietly, with claims of a second proposal being turned down while Rangers were edging towards a 2-1 victory over Falkirk.
The Turkish transfer window remains open until Friday, meaning the possibility of another approach cannot be completely dismissed.
For Rangers supporters, though, McInnes’ latest comments will provide some much-needed encouragement.
The Rangers boss handed Raskin a surprise start against John McGlynn’s Falkirk side despite the transfer uncertainty surrounding the midfielder, and the 25-year-old showed exactly why McInnes remains keen to keep him at Ibrox.
Asked if Raskin may have played his final game in a Rangers shirt, McInnes said: “No. No. I think he will stay.
“I can’t say for certain, I’m not in control of that.
“Obviously Nico’s had an opportunity to go today, and it wasn’t something he wanted or the club or entertained.
“It was hardly the ideal preparation.
“I’ve been keen to utilise Nico, but there’s been a lot going on for him.
“He’s been training with us every day, and I do think at times the team needs a bit more experience.
“I know he’s still relatively young in terms of his career, but he’s got a lot of experience under his belt for someone his age. I think the team, at times, needs that, so I was always keen to get him involved tonight.”
The comments underline just how highly McInnes values Raskin, particularly at a time when Rangers are trying to find greater consistency in the middle of the park.
The midfielder’s experience, despite his age, was clearly one of the reasons the manager opted to bring him straight into the starting XI despite the surrounding uncertainty.
And Raskin did not allow the transfer speculation to distract him.
Instead, he produced a performance that showed considerable focus and played an important role in the move that eventually produced Lawrence Shankland’s first goal of the night.
That contribution was particularly significant given the circumstances surrounding his selection.
Raskin had been left out of recent Rangers matches amid the growing transfer interest, but his return to the starting XI suggested McInnes was not prepared to simply freeze him out while his future remained unresolved.
The manager’s comments also appear to indicate that Rangers are hoping the situation ends with Raskin remaining in Glasgow.
There is still the possibility of further interest from Besiktas before the Turkish window closes, and McInnes was careful not to give an absolute guarantee because, as he admitted himself, the final decision is not entirely within his control.
But the signs are certainly encouraging for Rangers.
Raskin has already made it clear through his actions that he is capable of putting the noise surrounding his future to one side and concentrating on football.
And if McInnes gets his wish, the midfielder could remain an important part of his plans for the rest of the campaign rather than becoming another major departure for Rangers to deal with.
Nafisa
