Raskin ended the season as Rangers' best player, so what comes next? (Image: RR)
When a move for Nico Raskin became a possibility in late 2022, Rangers knew this was one transfer worth extra effort.
Ross Wilson, then the club’s sporting director, flew to Belgium to meet the midfielder and his father Thierry, himself a former player, in a meeting that proved pivotal. Michael Beale, the newly installed manager at the time, also laid the groundwork over Zoom, outlining Rangers’ project and why Ibrox represented the ideal next step for a gifted 21-year-old. He too would subsequently spend time with the player's family as a move to Ibrox took shape.
Raskin is unveiled at Ibrox in January 2023 (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group)
This was a deal that demanded extra time and energy from both men. They knew that if Raskin clicked, the potential upside, both on the pitch and in the market, was huge. Two-and-a-half years on, while that promise hasn't yet been reflected in medals, the reasons for that lie more with the club’s direction than the player’s ability, which has become increasingly evident of late.
At a critical stage of his young career, training with Standard Liege’s youth squad amid a contract stand-off, Rangers convinced Raskin to take the next step in Glasgow. For just over €1 million, it was viewed within the industry as a coup. He had initially agreed to join in the summer of 2023, but a deal was fast-tracked to bring him in that January during a difficult negotiation process with his former club. Rangers were pitched as a natural step up from Liege, in stature, ambition, and visibility.
Raskin, now making international strides for his country, has not forgotten where he came from. His No.43 shirt is a tribute to the postcode of the area in Belgium where his closest friends grew up, 4300.
There was some surprise at Raskin's choice in Belgium at the time, reflecting the belief internally that it was a coup. Raskin was on the cusp of a national team call-up under Roberto Martinez, and some viewed the Scottish Premiership as a sideways move. But the lure of European competition, trophies, and the club’s profile proved too compelling. The sales of Calvin Bassey (Ajax) and Joe Aribo (Southampton) in the preceding summer had also underlined a credible trading model at the time.
Sometimes a player simply fits a club, and that was the belief between recruitment figures and club officials when Raskin was identified. Some of his former managers had questioned whether he could play a deeper role, suggesting his high-octane approach was more natural further up the pitch. Rangers saw him as someone with the temperament and tenacity to handle the unique demands of Glasgow football and mature into the No.6 role while also working as a No.8. Their belief was that if he matured, both player and club would benefit handsomely.
Of late, it would be difficult to argue that Raskin has not been the standout midfielder in Old Firm games; in big fixture he almost always comes out on top individually. A composed performance alongside Kevin de Bruyne on his full Belgium debut in March validated the view that, in a possession-heavy team, Raskin can thrive. Privately, he has always maintained he sees his long-term future as a holding midfielder.
At times over the past two seasons, even Raskin may have wondered if Ibrox was the right stage, however. Off-field instability has repeatedly spilt onto the pitch since the summer of 2023. Yet multiple sources insist it is a testament to his character, something that stood out during the recruitment process, that his trajectory remains so linear at present after a difficult year. Even when a place in the team looked out of reach at points, Raskin remained determined to make things work.
Now entering the final two years of his deal, this summer is decisive. On form, Raskin looks like a player to build around as the club enters a new era under new ownership. But without a contract extension, Rangers will have to consider a sale. Raskin's value will probably never be higher than it is now, aged 24, breaking into the Belgium squad and coming off the back of a promising European campaign.
Speaking after the final league game, Raskin reiterated his contentment at Ibrox but admitted his future is ultimately up to the powers that be.
He said: “Look, I've been enjoying myself this season and it's not so often that you can say that. I'm really happy here. I've got two more seasons on my contract. So as long as the club wants me, I'll be here. Then we’ll see what happens.”
Read more:
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Analysing Nico Raskin's Belgium bow: Patience, forward passes, dovetailing De Bruyne
While no formal offers have landed yet for the player, interest has grown significantly since January. Porto were keen during the winter window and more suitors are expected this summer. As clubs look to increasingly invest in players under the age of 25 (Rangers will be no different this summer), time is of the essence.
Raskin’s popularity among the Rangers support stands in contrast to the general mood around the team, and that says plenty. It would have been easy for his head to drop, given the turmoil and low points of the past two years through injury and setbacks. Instead, he has stayed focused. In the summer of 2023, it looked like he was ready to kick on following such a smooth easing-in process towards the end of the previous campaign. He had adjusted to Scottish football and appeared set for a big season, even if gametime had to be managed during his first month in the country after time with the youth squads at the end of his Liege spell.
But Beale was out by October, Wilson had already left, and a very different vision was forming under Philippe Clement. Then came a damaging ankle injury just three games into the Belgian’s tenure, sidelining him for months. It was not until the run-in, after it became clear John Lundstram would depart and the league title was decided, that Clement fully entrusted him. Simply, some within Clement's coaching team were not as keen on Raskin as their predecessors. Clement preferred direct midfielders and was slow to give the No.43 an extended run, even turning to Kieran Dowell and Tom Lawrence in central, de facto midfield roles instead. Raskin started and stayed on the bench as Dowell partnered Lundstram in a midfield two during a 3-2 defeat away at Ross County that marked the real turning point in the title race.
It is a reminder of how fragile momentum can be for players. How, a year on from having the world at his feet, was Raskin totally out of the picture? Talent is one thing, system, trust, and timing are quite another. As Rangers have changed managers and ideas fleetingly in years gone by, individual development has often fallen by the wayside.
There was more misfortune in the summer of 2024, when a reckless challenge from Ajax’s Branco van den Boomen left Raskin in a protective boot during a pre-season game. He did not start a league fixture until late September, and when he did, it was in an unnatural role. The midfielder was hooked at half-time “for tactical reasons” by Clement. At that stage, many wondered if he was simply in the wrong movie, talented, yes, but unfavoured and perhaps surplus to requirements.
Yet after being handed a chance by Clement in October, the midfielder did not look back. Under Barry Ferguson, and with a strong Europa League campaign behind him, Raskin has continued to remind everyone what he is capable of, even in a more advanced role. That said, he remains convinced his ceiling is highest as a No.6.
"Nico has the potential to play at the highest level - his best years are still in front of him," Ferguson said early on in his tenure.
Recently, he added: "I think he can be a number six, but also I think he needs to add different attributes to his game. I think he can play further forward. And it's good to have that flexibility."
While his off-the-ball game is already seen as elite, combining ball-carrying and relentless energy, Raskin's distribution still needs refinement. That, ultimately, will determine how far he can go, but the last year shows good developments in said area. His blend of dominating big spaces, with strong running and pressing, alongside his ability to get out of small ones, with tight control and press resistance, is viewed as the reason he can play at such a high level.
It is worth noting, had Rangers signed the deep-lying midfielder they pursued last summer, Joan Jordan was a target, Raskin’s rise may have stalled altogether. That was a consideration in last summer's window as managerial preference was balanced against long-term squad planning. Instead, his performance against St Johnstone in October marked a turning point. By the season’s end, Raskin was not just influential, he was this side's best player. In hindsight, how difficult it is to believe Raskin had no part to play as a title was chased in 2024, especially given his performances against Celtic this year.
Raskin is a vocal figure at Auchenhowie, known for spending extra time in the analysis room and always seeking ways to improve. Even during injury spells and time out of the side, his mood was said to be upbeat, helped, in part, by dietary changes that have benefited his fitness, he referenced speaking to the press recently.
Asked at Easter Road what made this season so much better than the last, his answer was telling in its simplicity. Raskin's rise at Rangers is a reminder that players need trust and consistency to show their best face.
“I just had a run of games, to be fair. So I could enjoy it," he said.
“And, listen, it's also been a matter of confidence. When you go on the pitch and know you can lose one ball without being taken off, you feel better. You feel freer to go and try things. And I just feel so good in the team, with the other boys and the connection I have. So, I’ve just been really happy this season.”
A standout display against Ukraine, awarded man of the match on his full debut, was followed by confirmation of his place in Rudi Garcia’s latest Belgium squad. It was noted by some that Raskin played 85 minutes of said debut on a yellow card. In line with his maturity off the ball, this was a far more developed player than the one who struggled to reinstate himself under Clement.
For Rangers, the question now isn’t just what happens next with Raskin, it is whether they can establish a pathway for others like him. While keeping the player for another two years may seem ideal on the outside, the reality is that now may be the optimal moment to cash in.
Compared to this time last year, Nico Raskin’s world looks very different.