Rangers and Besiktas Reach Agreement for Nicolas Raskin Transfer
Rangers and Besiktas have reached a verbal agreement over the sale of Nicolas Raskin, with the midfielder now weighing up a move to Istanbul, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Turkish window stays open until Friday, keeping the door ajar for late drama at Ibrox even after most major European markets shut on Tuesday night. Rangers, already under pressure after taking just four points from their first three Scottish Premiership games, face a 5pm Thursday deadline to strengthen Derek McInnes’ squad – and could lose one of their most talented players in the same breath.
Besiktas deal on the table
Romano reported on X on Wednesday morning that Rangers and Besiktas have an agreement in principle for the Belgium international. The clubs have done their part. Now the decision sits with Raskin.
The 25-year-old must decide if Istanbul is the right next step. Talks are ongoing, with all sides pushing to bring clarity quickly. One way or another, this is heading for a conclusion.
A big figure, edging towards the exit
Raskin arrived in the 2023 January window and quickly carved out a place in the hearts of the Ibrox support. He brought bite, energy, and a touch of class to the Rangers midfield. There have been big performances, big nights, and the sense that he was built for this stage.
But the mood has shifted.
Despite making 50 appearances in all competitions last season, Raskin has been left out of the squad for two of Rangers’ three league games so far. Not because of form. Because of the noise around his future and the growing feeling that both player and club are ready to move on.
The expectation around Ibrox was that he would be sold this summer, particularly after shining for Belgium at the World Cup. That move never came. The European window ticked past without a serious bid materialising. Now Besiktas have stepped into the gap.
Is this the right club, the right league, the right moment? That’s the call Raskin has to make in the coming hours.
McInnes’ stance: respect and realism
Through it all, Derek McInnes has been careful to protect his player in public and to underline his value.
“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, highlighting the Belgian’s attitude amid constant speculation.
He acknowledged “a lot of chat about potential interest” and “a lot of conversations” with the club and prospective buyers, but stressed the reality of the situation: until a bid arrives that Rangers must seriously consider, Raskin’s job is to train and stay ready.
McInnes made his position clear. If the window shuts and Raskin is still a Rangers player, he expects the same level of commitment and performance as before. The interest exists because he is, simply, a good player. And McInnes wants good players.
For now, everyone waits.
Replace or trust what they’ve got?
If Raskin does go, Rangers face another decision. Act again in the market, or back the rebuild already underway in midfield?
They have not stood still in that area. Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic have all arrived this summer, adding legs, control and competition in the centre of the pitch. On paper, the numbers are there.
But numbers are not the same as influence.
Raskin brings experience of big games, familiarity with the demands of Ibrox and a profile that is not easily replicated. Losing him would remove a proven performer from a squad already trying to chase down Celtic and fend off the rest of the pack.
Rangers are playing catch-up in the league. They are juggling outgoings and incomings against a ticking clock. And now a key midfielder stands at a crossroads, with Besiktas waiting.
Does this become the moment the club finally draws a line under the Raskin chapter and leans fully into McInnes’ new midfield? Or does the Belgian stay put and fight through the uncertainty for one more tilt at the title in Glasgow?
