Hollywood A-lister Denzel Washington once spoke about the media and the modern phenomenon that is the race to be first rather than the need to be right and it would appear that is exactly the situation Rangers fans are facing with Nicolas Raskin.
Reports yesterday suggested that a fee had been agreed with Standard Liege for the 21-year old midfielder but nothing, so far, has been announced, to add further confusion, European based journalists have subsequently claimed that the two parties are still some way off in agreeing terms.
UPDATE: De biedingen van Valladolid voor Amallah en Rangers voor Raskin zijn inmiddels binnen bij @Standard_RSCL. Onderhandelingen lopen. Verwachting is dat Amallah heel snel rondkomt. Rangers moet nog pak verder springen. @hlnsport
— Bob Faesen (@BobFaesen) January 26, 2023
Rangers have made an official bid to sign Standard Liege midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
The player is keen on the move but Rangers remain some way away from Liege’s valuation.
— Pranav Shahaney (@PrSchadenfreude) January 26, 2023
The figures so far have ranged from £900,000 to £2.2million plus add-ons but, with a contract already agreed with the player, you would like to think that Rangers hold all the cards. The Belgian outfit’s negotiating position not being helped by dropping the Under-21 international either.
Raskin, with Todd Cantwell, would be exactly the sort of signings that Michael Beale said he is wanting. Young, energetic, hungry and, perhaps more importantly, upgrades on players who have been starting games. Not being able to rotate without a drop in quality has also cost us dearly this season.
Some would question paying such a fee for a player who will be joining for free, however, there are two cups still to play for and the pressure of keeping up with Celtic at the top of the table, this is experience that can’t just be written off, especially if we are to play Champions League qualifiers again next summer.
Stop being tight, get the deal done now.