Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale could be handed a boost in his pursuit of a recent transfer target ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the news?

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Ibrox target Nicolas Raskin is set to leave Standard Liege after refusing to sign a new deal with the Belgian club.

Tavolieri took to Twitter regarding the situation, saying: “Nicolas Raskin summoned by the management of #Standard to no longer train with the professional group. The U21 international, free this summer, has been dismissed by his club and must therefore train alone from today while waiting for his departure on January 1st.”

This is a major boost for the Light Blues in their pursuit of the Belgian, having been linked with him in November.

Beale could seal dream first signing

Standard Liege set a price tag of €5.5m (£4.7m) for the midfielder in the summer, but this recent news regarding the player not signing a new contract may allow Beale to potentially swoop in and secure him at a knockdown price.

There is a need for a couple of fresh faces at Ibrox, and with Glen Kamara attracting transfer interest once again, signing a midfielder should be on the Englishman’s list of priorities.

Beale has moved away from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s rigid 4-3-3 to a more dynamic 4-3-1-2 system, and Raskin could certainly thrive in a midfield three, especially with his strengths.

This season has seen the 21-year-old register four assists, create four big chances and make 1.1 key passes per match, which suggests that he often poses an attacking threat from the middle of the park.

Raskin can also contribute well defensively, showcasing his all-round ability by making 3.3 tackles and 0.4 interceptions per game and winning 58% of his total duels. These statistics certainly suggest that he could be a success either in a slightly deeper role focusing on winning the ball back and controlling the game, or if pushed forward that he can create plenty of chances for his team-mates.

This versatility will be a big bonus to Beale, and a move for Raskin should be made sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment at missing out on him.

The youngster was dubbed a “pitbull” by journalist Bob Faesen in 2020, and this comment certainly embodies his playing style, which is exactly what Rangers need in order to show a bit more fight in midfield.