‘Serious questions’ emerge about Nicolas Raskin fall-out after Rangers axe
Russell Martin will have to make a decision about Nicolas Raskin’s future at Rangers soon after he was left out again during the 2-0 defeat to Hearts on Saturday.
Raskin was also left out of the Old Firm clash v Celtic and has not featured under Martin since the 6-0 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge in August.
Football Insider revealed on 13 September that Raskin could quit Rangers in January if he does not return to the starting XI plans in the coming weeks.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Martin is keen for Raskin to return, but wants him to be fully focused on the club.
Sources say there will be “serious questions” asked of the midfielder following his exclusion against Hearts and concerns about his future continue to rise.
Russell Martin makes new Nicolas Raskin plan
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider in May that Raskin was wanted by Premier League clubs alongside European giants.
Martin has since revealed the midfielder had been unsettled by the interest during the transfer window and had his head turned by a potential exit.
After being left out of the squad for the last two Scottish Premiership clashes, Raskin has now been labelled “one to watch” ahead of the mid-season window.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “It’s been an uncertain time for Raskin. He was the subject of much transfer speculation during the summer window.
“Martin admitted that Raskin had been unsettled by the approaches made for his services.
“He’s been left out of a couple of games, was dropped for the Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen and wasn’t even in the squad for the Old Firm game.
“After being left out against Hearts, there are going to be serious questions about him. It’s sort of a one to watch, I think, with Raskin.
“For Martin, he is looking for a fully focused Raskin to be on the ball and ready to go into his start line-up because there’s no doubt Rangers are a better team with Raskin in the start line-up.”
Both parties are believed to be keen to resume playing at Ibrox, but the manager wants to be convinced his star talent is fully focused on the task at hand.
Raskin could leave Rangers after ‘complicated’ reveal
Rangers expected to field offers for Raskin in the closing stages of the transfer window and planned to reinvest the funds from his sale into their starting XI.
However, the sale never came, leaving him at Ibrox despite having his heart set on a move away from Scotland, leading to tension surrounding over his long-term future.
While away on international duty with Belgium, the midfielder confessed: “My situation at the club is a bit complicated. I’m going to go back, do the best I can to sort it out.” [the Sun]
The likes of Leeds United were interested in signing Raskin during the summer, while Porto, Crystal Palace and others were linked later in the window.
While it remains possible he could stay at Rangers beyond the mid-season window, he and the boss will have to reach an agreement behind the scenes.
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