'No better' No.6 in Serie A than Raskin, who could replace Gers star tipped for top
03/28/2025 02:30 AM
If Rangers are to be truly self-sufficient, they need to start funding their transfer expenditure by making a profit on players.
Selling five players for £800,000 when they are worth considerably more is not how to do it, and Nils Koppen will be under the microscope when the window reopens.
In the past, Rangers were guilty of keeping players who were valuable for too long and saw players like Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent leave for nothing and missed out on a possible £30m.
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to the current Rangers squad, however, in Nicolas Raskin, there is a player who Koppen could fund almost the entire summer spend – if he gets it right.
Speaking to Belgian media outlet Sporza, Cyriel Dessers reckons that the sky is the limit for his talented teammate.
Cyril Dessers tips Nicolas Raskin for top five league
Raskin was immense for Belgium on his first start for his country, with Rangers thankful that they didn't buy Kenny McLean instead of trusting their younger and more talented midfielder.
Branded a 'pit bull' by the Belgian media, his price tag has risen significantly after such an impressive introduction to international football.
Asked if Raskin could play himself into the spotlight even more, Dessers said:
“Of course, I see him at work every day and he is a strong player in a team full of internationals. So, I know he can handle that level.
“He is doing really well and with this match at the Red Devils there will be interest from other teams. I sometimes have those conversations with him, also because I am older.
“I think he can go very far. In the Serie A I saw players in the 6 who are no better than Nico, so he can go to the sub-top in a top competition. But it is important to take the right step to a competition and a team that suit his style.”
If Rangers do decide to cash in, they will need to find a replacement other than Connor Barron or Bailey Rice, who aren't quite ready to make the step up.
Who could Rangers replace Raskin with?
Raskin is well-rounded in that he contributes at both ends of the park, despite being classed as a defensive midfielder or a No.6.
Dessers is right though, the 24-year old has shown for Rangers in Europe and Old Firm games that he can dominate in big games and this is how he will be judged by scouts and recruitment analysts.
On paper, Chile international Nayel Mehssatou is as close to Raskin as you can get.
Capable of playing at full-back or as a defensive midfielder, the 22-year old spent his formative years at Anderlecht before moving to KV Kortrijk in Belgium's top-flight.
Out of contract in the summer, the eight-times capped dynamo also has a solid injury history missing only a handful of games in his senior career.
Koppen would love to build Rangers team around Nicolas Raskin but, if the sort of bid comes in that pushes the transfer record and could strengthen other areas too, there is only one decision to make.
However painful it might be to say goodbye.
