Derek McInnes have taken final decision on Raskin, this is the news rangers fabs have been waiting for
Derek McInnes’ summer overhaul at Ibrox is reaching a dramatic crescendo as Rangers prepare for their Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee United at Tannadice. Following a disastrous collapse during the post-split phase of last season that saw the Light Blues drop from a prime position to finish a distant third behind Celtic and Hearts, the club’s board authorized a complete restructuring of the football department. Danny Rohl was relieved of his duties, paving the way for McInnes—a manager with extensive knowledge of Scottish football’s physical and tactical demands—to take control. McInnes immediately initiated a clear recruitment strategy aimed at injecting domestic resilience while simultaneously upgrading the squad with high-upside continental talent.
The initial wave of summer signings focused on establishing a dependable domestic spine. Lawrence Shankland arrived as a proven goalscorer to provide the physical reference point up front that Rangers lacked during last spring’s faltering campaign. Midfielders Dan Neil and Cammy Devlin were brought in on free transfers to add technical composure and defensive tenacity in central transitions. Defensively, the club secured Ben Godfrey on a season-long loan from Serie A side Atalanta, whose recovery pace allows McInnes to deploy a higher defensive line. They further bolstered their options by bringing Ross McCrorie back to Scotland from Bristol City and signing Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Pandur to compete for the starting spot between the posts.
Despite these early additions, the focal point of Rangers’ transfer strategy has shifted toward high-value midfield maneuvering centered around Belgian international Nicolas Raskin. Raskin is set to return to training at Auchenhowie this week following an outstanding World Cup campaign with Belgium, where he provided two key assists to help guide his country to the quarter-finals. His stellar performances on the global stage attracted intense interest from top clubs across Serie A, La Liga, and the English Premier League, driving his market valuation up significantly. To protect his health and ensure a seamless departure, McInnes has opted to omit Raskin from matchday squads for the opening weeks of the season, preventing injury risks ahead of a prospective multi-million-pound transfer.
The impending financial windfall from Raskin’s sale is expected to serve as the critical catalyst for several ambitious targets. Rangers have been locked in negotiations for 20-year-old Norwegian prodigy Jens Hjerto-Dahl of Tromsø IL. After an initial £5.4 million proposal was rebuffed, Rangers escalated their efforts by submitting an improved £6.8 million offer and dispatching club executives via private jet to Norway to finalize terms before rivals Cardiff City or Besiktas can intervene. Furthermore, the extra capital generated by Raskin’s exit could provide the necessary funding for a ambitious move for Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson, offering McInnes a reunion with his former player to headline a transformed engine room alongside Partizan Belgrade target Vanja Dragojevic.
In addition to central midfield reinforcement, McInnes continues to seek dynamism on the flanks. Rangers have held positive discussions over a permanent deal for Leicester City winger Stephy Mavididi. The 28-year-old forward is seeking a move away from the King Power Stadium following the Foxes’ recent drop in league standing, viewing European football at Ibrox as the ideal platform for his career. While Leicester are currently seeking a £7 million fee, Rangers executives are working to negotiate a lower figure, aiming to add Mavididi’s isolated 1v1 dribbling and transition speed to round out an aggressive, highly remodeled squad ahead of the domestic and European challenges awaiting them in the 2026–27 campaign.
