RANGERS boss Russell Martin has admitted that Nico Raskin has been unsettled by the transfer interest linking him with a big-money move away from Ibrox.
The 24-year-old Belgian international midfielder has been the subject of interest from across the continent during the summer transfer window, including from clubs in England and France.
Still under contract for another two years, the expectation has been that Rangers will either look to tie Raskin down on a bumper new deal or cash in on a player who has become one of their top assets.
But, despite the fact he remains one of the club’s best players, Raskin has had to settle for a place on the bench after being dropped for the last two games against Viktoria Plzen and Dundee.
Speaking as Rangers look to finish the job against the Czechs on Tuesday night and book a place in the Champions League play-off round after the 3-0 win in Glasgow last week, Martin was candid on Raskin’s situation. Asked whether Rangers intend to keep Raskin beyond the summer, Martin replied: ‘I don’t think we’re in a position where we have to sell anyone.
Rangers boss Russell Martin admits Raskin (right) has been affected by transfer interest
Midfielder Raskin was a substitute in Saturday’s Ibrox draw with Dundee
‘I don’t think we’re in a position where we want to lose some of the best performers last season, that we think can become really top performers for us this season and moving forward. So, yeah, that’s the plan. Unless someone comes in and blows our minds and everyone decides — the player, the club, everyone — that it’s best (to sell).
‘So, that’s the plan — but football is interesting and it doesn’t always go to plan.’
Pressed on whether Raskin has had his head turned by a period of uncertainty about his future, Martin continued: ‘I think there’s been loads of stuff written in your back pages, about £20million, £15million, this club, that club.
‘I’m not saying it’s been you guys, but I think there’s definitely… the same with Dio (Mohamed Diomande), a lot of the guys. I mean, there’s been a lot of uncertainty around a lot of players.
‘But I think that’s every summer when you play for a football club like this. People deal with it in many different ways and he’s been fantastic in his reaction, which has been great.
‘So there’s a bit of uncertainty about him this summer, for sure. Not from people ringing us, but I think from people ringing him, definitely. So, I think that’s affected his approach.
‘We had a discussion and, since he came out of the team, he’s been a different guy. Incredible.
‘He played brilliantly on Saturday. He came out of the team for a reason that me and him spoke about. And his reaction has been top. Like, really, really brilliant.
Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande trains ahead of Rangers’ European tie in Plzen
‘So, hopefully, he can get to the end of the window, the window shuts and he’s still here. And then we can keep improving and keep kicking on.’
Martin confirmed that Hamza Igamane, Mikey Moore and Thelo Aasgaard will not feature against Plzen but should be ready for the weekend visit of Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup.
First and foremost, the Ibrox manager wants a reaction from his players after the disappointment of the 1-1 home draw with Dundee last weekend which saw Rangers booed off the pitch.
Already under major scrutiny among a section of the fanbase, Martin wants to see an improvement in how Rangers start matches against a Plzen side he feels could be dangerous as they seek to overturn a 3-0 deficit.
‘Goals change ties and games, so we have to start the game really well ourselves,’ he added. ‘They have, I guess, a nothing-to-lose approach.
‘So, we have to be really ready for that. If we have a setback in the game, which is not part of the plan, we have to respond in the way we did against Panathinaikos.
‘I loved the way the players responded to that. And I really enjoyed the way the players responded to going down to ten men on Saturday. But the plan is to not have a tough start. We need to start the game as well as we possibly can.’
