Athletic Club v Rangers FC - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg Nico Williams left winger of Athletic Club and Spaincelebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Athletic Club and Rangers FC at Estadio de San Mames on April 17, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. Bilbao Spain Imago Images
Rangers have firmly turned away a loan approach from Besiktas for midfielder Nico Raskin, making clear only a substantial permanent offer will be considered.
The Turkish club attempted to secure Raskin on a temporary basis, presenting a loan proposal that Rangers quickly dismissed as falling well short of their expectations for the Belgian midfielder.
Rangers originally paid £1.5 million plus add-ons to bring Raskin to Ibrox from Standard Liège back in January 2023, and the club now values him considerably higher.
Reports had suggested transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano indicated both clubs had reached a verbal agreement on a loan deal with a purchase option included, though Rangers ultimately rejected those terms.
The Ibrox club’s valuation of Raskin is believed to sit somewhere between £10 million and £20 million, a figure that makes any temporary arrangement essentially unworkable from Rangers’ perspective.
Hull City reportedly had a bid of £16.5 million rejected for the midfielder, offering the clearest indication yet of where Rangers have set their asking price for the player.
Raskin attracted considerable attention from clubs across England, Spain, and Italy during the summer, though the transfer windows in those countries closed on Tuesday without a deal materialising.
With Europe’s top five leagues now closed for business, Turkey and Saudi Arabia represent the most realistic remaining destinations for the midfielder if he is to move before deadlines expire.
Besiktas previously made an attempt to sign Raskin during the January 2026 window, but the player himself reportedly preferred a move to one of Europe’s more prominent leagues at that stage.
The Turkish club faces a tight timeline to complete any transfer business, with their Super Lig squad deadline falling on Friday night, though their UEFA squad list for Europa League must be submitted by Wednesday.
Raskin remains under contract at Rangers until the summer of 2028, meaning the Scottish club hold a strong negotiating position and face no immediate pressure to accept anything below their valuation.
Whether Besiktas will return with a significantly improved bid in the coming days remains to be seen, but Rangers have sent an unambiguous message about the kind of money required to secure the midfielder’s signature.
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