Standard Liege midfielder Nicolas Raskin in action
Belgian football journalist Sacha Tavolieri says that Glasgow Rangers are ‘ready’ to make another bid to bring Nicolas Raskin to Ibrox.
The Lowdown: Bid rejected
It was reported earlier this week that Rangers have had a six-figure bid for the 21-year-old rejected by Standard Liege which is thought to be ‘well short’ of their valuation of the player.
The Belgian club reportedly want around £1.5m to let him go this month, with Raskin already agreeing personal terms on a four-and-a-half year deal with the Premiership giants and undergoing a medical last week.
The Latest: Another bid ‘ready’
Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri says that Rangers are ‘ready’ to make another bid for the Belgian ‘in the next hours’, but added that it is a ‘race against time’ to get this deal over the line.
The journalist tweeted: “#Standard makes it difficult for Nicolas #Raskin as all formalities on player side already been completed last week. Just waiting for agreement between clubs. 2d bid rejected yesterday but #RangersFC ready to make another in the next hours. Race against time.”
The Verdict: Meet the valuation
Raskin’s valuation is already likely to have been cut given that his contract is up in the summer, so with all other formalities already agreed, Rangers should just pay the asking price and get him in. That way, Michael Beale can work with him ahead of two games next week against Hearts and Ross County in the Premiership.
The Light Blues manager has already expressed his admiration for the Belgium under-21 international, dubbing him a ‘very good‘ player after watching him face the Teddy Bears for Standard Liege last season.
He has also been hailed as ‘monstrous’ and a ‘leader’ by his manager Ronny Deila, having played nearly 100 matches in the Belgian top flight by the age of just 21, scoring five goals and providing another 13 assists (Transfermarkt).
Nonetheless, with a bid already submitted and another one looking likely to come, Raskin is clearly a player that Beale wants, so the Ibrox board should be looking to clinch this deal within the next few days.
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