As Ibrox Noise has been reporting and indeed preaching for weeks, Rangers are awaiting an unlock. Rangers are awaiting the unlock to finally get the summer transfer deals underway properly. It will allow them to pursue the level of marquee additions that are required. But the unlock is one simple thing: Nicolas Raskin.
Raskin is Rangers’ most valuable asset
Nico Raskin is Rangers’ most valuable asset and is off the back of a successful summer World Cup. His value is rated at around £30M. Rangers are seeking around that number, potentially with add-ons, for his departure. Rangers cannot do an awful lot more in the transfer window until Raskin is sold.
Yes, there could be other outgoings too, such as Thelo Aasgaard and indeed Mohamed Diomande. Those players are regarded as bigger-value assets based on their reputations and/or being at the World Cup. However, Raskin is the jewel. He is the one who requires to be sold.
Defenders remain on the agenda
Rangers are said to have targets of around five or six more players to come in. But none of them can arrive until Raskin departs. His exit and the funds received are the massive green light to finally go ahead. Rangers can then get in the players that they need.
Crucially, a lot of them are defenders. We definitely know that around three defenders, at least, are potentially coming in. And that, of course, still remains up in the air based on the Belgian’s exit.
Only one bid has arrived
For what it is worth, he has around 10-plus clubs interested in him. But only one bid has actually come in. That was Hull City’s optimistic £14M attempt some weeks ago. It was thrown out.
That set the bar. It set the bar for Rangers to show the world exactly what they expect for Raskin. He will not go cheap. But he is that unlock code. He is the simple sluice that needs to be opened. That will allow the floodgates to finally be breached and Rangers to bring in the players who are required.
Until Raskin goes, not an awful lot can be done. We have heard notes that Rangers require to break even and require to have the finances in order. We have preached about this many, many times.
Rangers must consider FFP
Of course, we know fine well that the club has the funds, but it cannot just spend them. Not only would that cause a few issues with FFP, but it would not be good for the accounts either. We do not want to be operating at a loss.
We will have a separate entry on the FFP implications of where Rangers are in due course. But as far as things go regarding signings, it all depends on Raskin’s exit. He does not want to remain at Rangers any longer. He is awaiting the bid, the deal and the wage at the club that he wants. Until that happens, we are kind of in limbo.
Dragojević appears Rangers bound
Yes, there are reports, indeed strong reports, that Rangers are due to announce Vanja Dragojević. The manager of Partizan Belgrade recently confirmed that he has left his club.
In fairness, the manager in question did not confirm that he had left for Rangers. Only the Serbian press confirmed that. The manager himself, Saša Ilić, merely said that he has indeed left. It is presumed it is for Rangers.
But nevertheless, regardless of Dragojević, Rangers are a little bit in deadlock and just await Raskin’s exit. As soon as that happens, things can finally get going in the transfer window for Rangers.