Chances of Nico Raskin January exit revealed as Rangers star targeted by EIGHT clubs

Every transfer window has its slow-burning story, the one that begins before the window opens and keeps going long after it closes. For Rangers, that story belongs to Nico Raskin. It dominated the summer, it defined the days around the deadline, and it has not gone away. On 1 October, TEAMtalk reported that Raskin remains one of the most closely watched players in Scottish football, with as many as eight clubs reported to be interested, and that a January departure, while possible, is not the most likely outcome.

That is the headline: lots of interest, one valuation nobody has met, and a player who says he is in no rush. This piece looks at who is circling, why a deal has proved so hard to complete, what Raskin himself wants, and how the calendar might shift the balance of power between Rangers and the clubs that want him.

The core of TEAMtalk’s story can be summarised quickly. Raskin, a Belgium international, is under contract at Ibrox until June 2028. He has drawn sustained attention after another solid campaign and his displays at the 2026 World Cup. Rangers value him at about £20 million, a figure that no interested club has so far matched. And while a January move cannot be ruled out, the report concludes that the 25-year-old looks more likely to stay until at least the summer, unless a club from one of Europe’s top five leagues makes an offer that both Rangers and Raskin find impossible to refuse.

The report names the clubs. Turkish side Beşiktaş are described as the clearest and most aggressive suitors. Tottenham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Hull City have all been interested over the past 12 months. In Italy, Atalanta and Bologna have shown interest, and in Spain so has Real Betis. That makes eight in total, spread across four countries.

It is an impressive list, and it explains the headline. But a long list of admirers and a completed transfer are very different things, and the history of this saga shows why.

Beşiktaş are the only club described as actively pursuing a deal. According to TEAMtalk, they failed with both loan and permanent bids in the summer and are preparing to reopen talks. Sources in Turkey say Raskin sits at the top of the club’s mid-season shortlist, and the plan is to fund the move by selling surplus players.

Their earlier approach is instructive. Rangers rejected a second offer from the Süper Lig side in early September, with TEAMtalk reporting at the time that it fell around 30 per cent short of the asking price. The club was also warned that it risked missing out altogether. That detail matters. It shows that Rangers, far from being flustered by interest, were willing to say no to a bid that did not match their valuation.

The obstacle for Beşiktaş is not only the money. Raskin has reportedly rejected advances from Istanbul before, making clear that he would prefer a move to one of Europe’s top five leagues. A club can offer a good fee and attractive terms, but if the player does not want to go, the deal stalls. For that reason, TEAMtalk describes the prospect of convincing him to move to Turkey as very difficult.

The English interest is broader but less aggressive. Tottenham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Hull City have all been linked over the past year. Other reports have named West Ham, Wolves, Leeds and Brighton as clubs that scouted him over an 18-month period, which suggests a wide and sustained level of attention.

Two of the names are particularly interesting. The Hard Tackle reported on 2 October that Villa and Tottenham were the most active of the group, with manager Unai Emery said to see value in Raskin’s versatility and Roberto De Zerbi viewing him as a midfield reinforcement for Spurs. Both are clubs that already have quality in the position, which probably explains why neither has moved decisively. They would be buying a good option rather than filling an obvious gap.

For Raskin himself, the Premier League is the dream destination. He has spoken in the past about wanting to play in England, and the prospect of joining a club of that calibre is the kind of offer that could change his mind about waiting.

Italy has been a recurring theme in Raskin’s transfer story. Atalanta were among the clubs reported to be monitoring him closely in the summer, in connection with a possible replacement for a departing midfielder. Bologna, whose own midfielder Lewis Ferguson has been linked with a move in the opposite direction, add a symmetrical twist to the rumours.

Italian clubs tend to be patient buyers. They often wait until a player’s contract has fewer months left, which reduces the fee. That is relevant here, as I’ll explain below

Real Betis, who face Rangers in recent European history and who were named earlier in the summer, round out the list. The Spanish side represent the kind of destination Raskin might find appealing: a top-five league, regular European football and a style of play that suits technical midfielders

If so many clubs want him, why is he still at Rangers? The answer lies in three interlocking factors.

The valuation. Rangers have set a price of about £20 million, and nobody has met it. Some reports have suggested that the figure could be higher or lower, depending on the source, but the consistent theme is that the club is not in a hurry to sell for less than it believes he is worth.

The player’s preferences. Raskin has been clear that he is looking for a particular type of move. After the summer window closed, he said he had been mentally ready to leave but found that the timing and the packages on offer were not satisfactory. In other words, the issue was not a lack of interest but a lack of the right interest.

The seller’s strength. Rangers are under no financial pressure to sell. They have a contract that runs to 2028 and a manager who has made it plain he wants Raskin in the team. That gives the club the freedom to wait.

Together, those three factors create a stalemate that is comfortable for everyone except the buyers. Rangers keep their star, Raskin keeps his options open, and the clubs that want him have to decide whether to pay more or wait

Perhaps the most revealing part of the report is the player’s own attitude. According to TEAMtalk, Raskin has stressed that he is in no rush and is happy contributing at Ibrox while waiting for the right opportunity.

That is consistent with everything he has said and done since the summer. He admitted publicly that he had wanted to leave, but he did not demand a move or refuse to play. When the window closed with him still at the club, he returned to the squad and has performed well. Manager Derek McInnes has said he has been first-class since returning from the World Cup, a description that reflects both his attitude and his form.

The picture that emerges is of a professional who has set a clear goal, a move to a top-five league, and is prepared to be patient. That makes him a more difficult player to buy than one who simply wants out. A player who is desperate to leave will accept any reasonable offer. One who is comfortable where he is can afford to say no.

There is also a practical reason for patience. His performances for Rangers, particularly in the recent derbies, are helping to increase his profile. A strong autumn with the club could improve his value and widen his options, so in a sense he has an incentive to keep playing well and wait.

That arithmetic matters because transfer values shrink as contracts shorten. A player with more than two years remaining commands a premium. A player with 18 months or fewer is a cheaper proposition, because the buyer knows the selling club will soon face the prospect of losing him for nothing. Other reports have made the same point, noting that interested clubs are patient and believe they could land him more cheaply in January as his contract ticks down

This is the central tension in the story. Rangers want to cash in at the right moment. Buyers want to wait until the price falls. Raskin himself wants the right move. And all three are watching the same clock.

The 18-month threshold is particularly significant. Clubs often treat it as the point at which a player’s value starts to drop sharply. If Rangers fail to sell in January or the following summer, they risk entering a position where they must either extend his contract, accept a reduced fee or lose him on a free.

One further wrinkle is Raskin’s standing with his national team. He lost his place in the Belgium starting line-up for the Nations League defeat to France, with Romeo Lavia taking his role and drawing praise in the Belgian press. Raskin came on in the 85th minute, shortly before France scored the only goal of the game.

A single match does not define a career, but it does affect perceptions. International status is part of what makes a player attractive to foreign clubs, and a drop in standing, even temporarily, can alter valuations. For Raskin, regaining his place would help his case.

It also adds a degree of urgency to his club form. A strong run at Rangers would help restore his position with Belgium and keep his profile

The club’s options are clear, even if the best choice i

The simplest approach is to keep the £20 million valuation and wait. This has worked so far. It keeps a key player in the team during a title push, and it signals to the market that Rangers will not be bullied. The risk is that value erodes as the contract shortens and that a better offer never arrives

If a suitable bid does arrive in January, Rangers could accept. This would provide funds for reinvestment and avoid the risk of a decline in value. It would also remove a player who has said his ambitions lie elsewhere. The drawback is the loss of a central figure in the middle of the season, when replacements may be hard to find

A third option is to offer a new contract and push the expiry date back, thereby restoring leverage. Reports suggest this is unlikely, as Raskin appears unwilling to commit his long-term future to the club. But it remains a theoretical option

The approach that seems most likely, and the one suggested by several reports, is to treat the summer of 2027 as the real target. By then Raskin will have had a full season at Rangers, his value will be established, and the contract will have about a year left. Football Insider has said Rangers see next summer as the best moment to cash in, and that the club would rather keep him for the first half of the campaign

It is possible to imagine several scenarios for the winter window.

Nothing happens. The most probable outcome, according to TEAMtalk. Raskin stays, Rangers continue the title challenge and the saga rolls on to the summer.

A top-five league club makes a firm bid. If Villa, Spurs, Atalanta, Bologna or Betis come in at or near £20 million, the balance shifts. Rangers would have to decide whether the money is worth the disruption, and Raskin would have a destination that fits his stated preferences.

Beşiktaş improve their offerThe Turkish club could return with a bigger bid, and the money might be tempting enough for Rangers. The difficulty remains Raskin’s reluctance.A late twist. Football is full of surprises. An injury, a change of manager at a suitor club, or a sudden shift in a player’s form could alter everything

Any discussion of a sale has to consider the effect on the pitch. Raskin has been central to McInnes’ midfield, particularly in the derbies, where his control and distribution have been highlighted. Losing him mid-season would be a blow, even with the depth the club has built.

The summer signings of Dan Neil, Cammy Devlin and Vanja Dragojevic give McInnes options, but the consensus is that Raskin is the best of the group. A replacement of equal quality would be hard to find in January, when the market is thin and prices are inflated.

That is another reason why the club is likely to resist a January sale unless the offer is exceptional. A title challenge is the priority, and weakening the team for money would send the wrong signal.

Rangers fans are divided in a familiar way. Some argue that a player who has said he wants to leave should be sold when the price is right. Others believe that a talented player in form should be kept, particularly when the team is doing well.

The mood is shaped by the recent run of results. With the derby wins fresh in the memory, there is little appetite for losing a key performer. At the same time, supporters understand the club’s model and recognise that a £20 million sale would be a significant boost.

What most fans seem to want is clarity. A drawn-out saga can become a distraction, and a clean resolution, whether a sale or a commitment to stay, would be welcome.

Beşiktaş’s next move. The Turkish club’s plan to reopen talks is the most concrete lead. Whether it results in an improved bid will be telling.A top-five league bid. The arrival of a serious offer from one of the clubs Raskin would prefer would change the picture.

Raskin’s form. His performances for Rangers and Belgium will influence his value and his options.Rangers’ results.A strong run in the league would reinforce the argument for staying. A dip could change attitudes.

Contract developments. Any talk of an extension would signal a shift. Currently, it looks unlikely.

The TEAMtalk report captures a situation that is both exciting and unresolved. Eight clubs are interested, and the list spans Turkey, England, Italy and Spain. Rangers value their man at £20 million, and no one has matched it. Raskin himself has said he is in no rush and is happy to wait for the right opportunity.

The most likely outcome, according to the report, is that he stays until the summer. The logic is persuasive. Rangers hold a strong hand, the player is performing, and the buyers have little incentive to overpay while the contract clock works in their favour.

But nothing is certain. A top-five league club with a serious offer could still force the issue, and the arithmetic of the contract means the window for maximum value is narrowing. For Rangers, the challenge is to balance short-term ambition with long-term business. For Raskin, it is to keep performing and wait for the right call. And for the eight clubs watching, it is to decide whether Raskin is worth the price now or whether patience will pay off.

Whatever happens, this story is far from over. The January window is only a few months away, and the question of where Nico Raskin plays his football in 2027 is one of the most intriguing in Scottish football