How Premier League transfer window change for FIFA Club World Cup could cause Rangers issue if star gets 'dream' move
03/28/2025 03:30 AM
Rangers will be wanting the transfer window to open as soon as the last ball is kicked on the 2024/25 season so that it can be put behind them.
Unless of course, Barry Ferguson does the unthinkable and becomes only the second Rangers manager to win a European trophy and firmly cement his place as an Ibrox legend as well as a Hall of Fame inductee.
It would also pretty much guarantee that he got the Gers boss gig on a full-time basis, however, the odds are slim, and Nils Koppen will be shopping for someone else.
The San Francisco 49ers technical director Gretar Steinsson will help appoint a new manager, even if the new owners in waiting won't have a direct impact on this summer's transfer business.
What might have an effect is the Premier League's announcement that the transfer window is to open early south of the border with one Rangers player in particular potentially affected.
How Premier League transfer window change could affect Rangers
If the international break has done anything, it has put Nicolas Raskin firmly in the shop window.
The 24-year old is now a fully-fledged international and impressed for Belgium on his first start.
It isn't too big a stretch to suggest that his dream of playing for Chelsea, or Kevin de Bruyne putting in a word at Man City for a Rodri regen, couldn't be realised and if they want Raskin, Rangers might have to wait before they could replace him.
The player himself has been more than open about seeing Rangers as a stepping-stone:
"My ultimate dream is to play in the Premier League with Chelsea," said Raskin not long after joining Rangers.
"Playing in Scotland struck me as a good intermediate step.
"But Rangers are still a big name in British football. Before they came in for me, I had approaches from Club Brugge and Genk.
"But I think it would be a mistake for me to play for another club in Belgium, as Standard will always be the club I love most.
"Other clubs were interested in me as well, but Rangers' interest was the strongest."
What changes have been made to the transfer window in the Premier League?
The changes to the transfer window are all because of the new FIFA Club World Cup and because of the participation of both Chelsea and Man City.
The tournament starts from the 15th of June and the clubs competing are allowed to add new players when the knock-out stages begin due to most players' contracts in Europe and around the globe ending at the end of June.
For the Premier League, to keep in FIFA's good books in terms of transfer window restrictions, the window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
At one point, due to Rangers' coefficient ranking, it had looked like they were in line for a £50m bonus and a place in FIFA's flagship tournament, unfortunately, once again, only the rich are going to get richer.
