If Hamza Igamane was the signing of the summer, then the emergence of Nicolas Raskin as a real star for Rangers isn’t far behind in terms of positives for the season.
Vaclav Cerny has also been good, however, his status as a loan player only makes it harder to say goodbye.
Last spring, Raskin wasn’t even making the Rangers squad, with Philippe Clement claiming that it was on form, not fitness.
It’s amazing what can be achieved when a player plays in their best position and is given a run of games, hopefully the next Rangers manager realises this with Igamane.
Current boss Barry Ferguson was speaking post-match about Raskin’s emergence and why he is so important for Rangers.
- READ MORE: Rangers must ‘live within their means’ as 49ers takeover hits UEFA transfer funds roadblock
Barry Ferguson on Nicolas Raskin’s improvement for Rangers
When asked if he had any involvement in instructing Raskin to play further forward, Ferguson said:
“No, I think Nico will tell you he wants to be a number six. I think he can be a number six, but also I think he needs to add different attributes to his game.
“I think he can play further forward. And it’s good to have that flexibility. We’ve had a few arguments, should we say, but I don’t mind that.
“He’s a good boy. He’s got really good ability, there’s no doubt. And I think he’s, certainly from the turn of the year, his levels of performance have been up there.”
And when asked if he saw himself in the young Belgian, he replied:
“Yeah, too much of myself. That’s why I argue with him. But he’s got an opinion, I don’t mind people with opinions. I just think if he works on things that we speak about, he’s got a real chance of playing at the top.”
With three goals and 10 assists from a deeper position, Raskin has shown what he is capable of the final third.
Who should Rangers sign to get the best out of Raskin?
His energy and dynamism has stood out a mile in a team that has lacked either for long periods.
What it has also shown, is that Rangers should be looking for a new defensive midfielder this summer, not a number eight, or one capable of going box to box.
Players like Kieran Dowell and Jose Cifuentes will have to be sold to make room, but there is no reason why Bailey Rice can’t share minutes with a new defensive midfielder who can dictate the tempo of a game.
Raskin and Mohamed Diomande as the two more advanced midfielders in a three offer more than enough to win most games and are versatile enough to adapt for Europe too.
One option could be Dejan Ljubicic, who Rangers have been linked with before and who is set to leave Koln on a Bosman this summer.
Union Berlin and Dinamo Zagreb have been named as interested, but with the 49ers Enterprises having scouted him for Leeds Utd, it wouldn’t be a surprise if his name crops up in Rangers’ recruitment department once again.
