Rangers Reach Agreement with Besiktas for Nicolas Raskin
Rangers and Besiktas have reached a verbal agreement over the sale of midfielder Nicolas Raskin, according to Fabrizio Romano, leaving the Belgian’s Ibrox future hanging on his own decision in the final days of the Turkish window.
The Scottish club, already under pressure after a stuttering start to the Premiership campaign with just four points from their first three matches, face a critical 48 hours. Their own deadline to strengthen Derek McInnes’ squad is 5pm on Thursday. Turkey, though, keeps trading until Friday – and that has left one of Rangers’ most valuable assets still firmly in the shop window.
Romano reported on X on Wednesday morning that Rangers and Besiktas have an agreement in principle for Raskin. The structure is there, the clubs are aligned. Now it comes down to the player: does he want Istanbul, or does he stay to fight for his place in Glasgow? Talks are ongoing as all sides search for a definitive answer.
Time to split?
Raskin’s Rangers story has not been a failure. Far from it. Since arriving in the January 2023 window, he has delivered big performances, big moments and a sense of drive in midfield that quickly endeared him to the Ibrox crowd.
Last season he racked up 50 appearances in all competitions, a central figure in the Light Blues’ engine room. This season tells a different tale. The 25-year-old has been left out of the squad for two of Rangers’ three league games, his omission framed by growing uncertainty over his future rather than form or fitness.
The expectation around the club was clear: after impressing for Belgium at the World Cup, this summer was supposed to be his move. A step up, a new league, serious bids on the table. The major European windows closed on Tuesday night without that decisive offer landing. No bidding war, no late scramble – just interest, conversations and now a Turkish option that has emerged as the most concrete route out.
So the decision sharpens. If Raskin wants the next chapter, Besiktas are ready. Whether that’s the right stage for him will be answered quickly.
McInnes’ stance
Through the noise, McInnes has consistently backed his midfielder’s professionalism. The Rangers boss recently spelled out how Raskin has handled the uncertainty.
“Nico's been first-class since he came back from the World Cup – he's been good as gold, he's trained brilliantly,” McInnes said. “Obviously there's been a lot of chat about potential interest and there's been a lot of conversations had with the club and prospective buyers.
“But, until an offer comes in that the club need to consider, Nico just has to knuckle down and train.
“I've no doubts that, if the window closes and Nico's still a Rangers player, he'll give brilliant service as he's done previously. He's getting interest because he's a good player. I want to work with good players. We just needs to wait and see how things develop.”
Those words still stand, but the landscape has shifted. The offer has effectively arrived. The club have something they are prepared to accept. The choice now largely rests with the player himself.
What next for Rangers’ midfield?
If Raskin goes, Rangers lose a proven performer in the heart of the pitch, yet they are not short of bodies in that area. McInnes and the board have already moved aggressively in central midfield, bringing in Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic this summer.
That recruitment drive raises a pointed question: do Rangers replace Raskin like-for-like, or do they trust the reshaped core to carry them through a season where they are already chasing Celtic and the rest?
With the domestic deadline looming and the Turkish window still open, the clock is ticking on both the club and the player. Raskin’s next move will say plenty – not just about his ambitions, but about how bold Rangers are prepared to be in reshaping a squad that cannot afford another slow start.
