As we’ve been discussing the past week, Rangers’ new captain has already been ‘announced by Danny Rohl.
With the exit of current incumbent James Tavernier now officially confirmed, his replacement had already been revealed by the manager, as Ibrox Noise mentioned.
That man is Nicolas Raskin, and he will take the armband from next season.
Condition
But there is a gigantic condition to this situation which Rohl himself may be overlooking.
And that giant condition is that Raskin has to still BE here.
Nico Raskin is subject to a tonne of transfer speculation, and despite his modest season this campaign, he is a wanted man.
Brentford, Aston Villa, West Ham and Brighton have all been heavily credited with interest in him, and he was confirmed by his grandfather Gilbert Govaert as being disappointed a move last summer failed to materialise.
Turkish giants Besiktas are also credited with interest.
Just a step for Rangers new captain
Raskin has been clear in the past that Rangers were ‘just a step’ in his career. His words, not ours. He has been a bit quiet about that since.
And Barry Ferguson, former interim head coach, confirmed that Raskin and he had ‘words’ a lot in the dressing room. This is polite diplomatic chat for Raskin being a hothead and hard to deal with.
However, Danny Rohl seems to rate and love him, and he’s his man on the pitch. If Raskin remains in Govan this summer, the captaincy is his.
It’s a curious state of affairs that a player who stated a few times that he wanted to leave will be given the exalted honour of the armband.
Incentive
A barter? Trying to bribe him to remain at Ibrox?
Who knows. Either way, Rohl would end up painfully embarrassed if he picks Raskin as captain only for the boy to leave the club five minutes later.
Rangers’ new captain is Raskin. Rohl needs him to stay.
But the likes of Villa and Brentford might have other ideas.