Rangers and Besiktas Reach Agreement for Nicolas Raskin Transfer
Rangers and Besiktas have reached a verbal agreement over the transfer of Nicolas Raskin, according to Fabrizio Romano, leaving the Belgian midfielder with a major decision to make in the final hours of the Turkish window.
The Ibrox club, already under pressure after a stuttering start to the Scottish Premiership campaign, now face the prospect of losing one of their most gifted midfielders just as they try to claw back ground on Celtic.
Besiktas deal on the table
Romano reported on Wednesday morning that Rangers and Besiktas have an agreement in principle for Raskin’s sale. The clubs are aligned. The move now hinges on the player.
Raskin must decide if Istanbul is his next step. Talks are ongoing, with all sides trying to thrash out a definitive answer before the Turkish deadline on Friday. While most major European leagues shut their windows on Tuesday night, Turkey remains open – and that has kept Raskin’s future firmly in play.
Rangers, meanwhile, only have until 5pm on Thursday to shape Derek McInnes’ squad for the title race. They are already playing catch-up, with just four points from their first three league fixtures, and every outgoing now has a direct impact on what – or who – can still come in.
Time to split?
Raskin arrived in January 2023 and quickly carved out a place in the hearts of the Ibrox support. He delivered big performances in big moments, and last season he racked up 50 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues.
Yet the mood has shifted. The 25-year-old has been left out of the matchday squad for two of Rangers’ three league games this season, a clear sign of the uncertainty swirling around his future.
The expectation inside and outside the club was that Raskin would move on this summer, particularly after shining at the World Cup with Belgium. But as the main European windows closed, no major bid materialised. Interest, yes. A concrete offer that suited Rangers, no.
Now Besiktas have stepped forward. The question is whether this is the move Raskin wants – and whether this is the moment Rangers decide to cash in.
McInnes’ stance and the midfield puzzle
Through it all, McInnes has publicly backed his midfielder and his attitude.
“Nico's been first-class since he came back from the World Cup – he's been good as gold, he's trained brilliantly,” the Rangers manager said recently, acknowledging the constant noise around possible bids and ongoing talks with “prospective buyers”.
His message to Raskin has been simple: until an offer arrives that Rangers are prepared to consider, train hard and be ready. McInnes has also been clear that if the window closes and Raskin is still at Ibrox, he expects the Belgian to continue providing “brilliant service” as before.
That scenario now hangs in the balance. If Besiktas get their man, Rangers must decide whether to dip back into the market or trust what they already have. Three central midfielders – Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic – have already been added this summer, bolstering the core of McInnes’ side.
Does losing Raskin force another move, or has his replacement effectively already arrived?
With the clock ticking in Glasgow and Istanbul, Rangers stand at a crossroads: hold on to a proven performer and risk losing him for less later, or let him go now and bet that a reshaped midfield can still carry them past Celtic and the rest in a title race that has barely started but already feels tense.
