Ex-Celtic boss Ronny Deila has officially opened the exit door for reported high-profile Rangers target Nicolas Raskin after the player was banished to the Standard Liege reserves.
Rangers are one of a number of clubs said to be interested in the 21-year-old Belgian midfielder with a deal to take the player collapsing late in the summer transfer window.
Out of contract in the summer and in the midst of a stand-off with the Pro League side, Nicolas Raskin is now training with the reserves and the latest suggests a move to France could be imminent.
Standard Liege are obviously keen to make as much as they can off the player and Rangers remain an interested party given how recently the club were linked with a move.
Standard need Rangers target Nicolas Raskin to move on in order to buy
Now, ex-Celtic manager Ronny Deila has been talking about the future of Nicolas Raskin and as Rangers watch on, the player is apparently edging towards the exit door this winter.
At least that’s if Standard Liege want to recruit replacements, with a bitter Deila claiming both Raskin and teammate Selim Amallah will need to leave before the club can move elsewhere.
“If Nico and Selim leave, we will be able to recruit a little but there is also a deficit to absorb,” said Deila.
“You have to find a good balance between young players, others at their prime, and older ones. Too many young people, I don’t like that either, but you also have to train young players to be able to sell them later and get some money back.
“It’s a problem with Nicolas Raskin and Selim Amallah, the club helped make them better and they could end up leaving for free I don’t find that very fair.”
Rangers will be watching the situation with Nicolas Raskin closely with the Ibrox club’s manager Michael Beale already confirming that the Gers plan to recruit in midfield this January.
One former Ibrox star has been tipped to be at the top of the list.
