Nico Raskin has batted away questions over his Rangers future, insisting his focus remains on Belgium's World Cup campaign. Sources in Italy state Inter, Atalanta and Bologna are keen on signing Raskin this summer, while reports down south claim the Ibrox club have rejected a £14million offer from Hull City. Real Betis are also said to have an interest.
Raskin's Contract and World Cup Performance
Raskin's Ibrox contract still has another two years left to run, and Rangers could look to cash in to maximise profit for the ex-Standard Liege star. That aligns with an impressive tournament in North America, with Raskin landing praise for his performance in the 4-1 rout of the USA in the last 16. Going into the quarter-final clash with Spain, the 25-year-old distanced himself from discussions about a move away from the Scottish Premiership this summer.
Asked about his future at his nation's pre-match press conference, he said: “If I don’t enjoy this, I will never enjoy it. So I am really enjoying it to the fullest. It is magnificent and we are going to play in LA now, it will be even better. It is a dream.”
Hull City Bid and Warning from Alan Smith
Premier League new boys Hull have been heavily linked and reportedly have seen a £14million bid rejected. Former England cap Alan Smith has warned the star over the move south of the border, with the prospect of a fight for survival on the cards next term. He told BestBettingsites.co.uk: "Yeah, they need more bodies, more talent, more quality. I mean, he only broke into the Belgium side last year. But as you said, got an assist. He’s been wearing his national shirt, which will give him confidence. If he comes to Hull, he’ll be up against it. They’ll be losing most weekends. But certainly, Hull yeah, they need to be quite cute, don’t they, in their acquisitions? I don’t know how much money they’ve got to spend, but they need players with hunger and ability, which is not easy to get."
Succession Plan: Jens Hjerto-Dahl
Should Raskin depart, Tromso's Jens Hjerto-Dahl has emerged as a potential replacement. Rangers retain an interest in the 20-year-old Norwegian midfielder, having been linked last January, and have been told an £8.5million fee will be required to snap up the player. Reports in Norway suggest the Light Blues have already seen a bid rejected, and asked about offers, Tromso sporting director Lars Petter Andressen told TV2: “Now it’s because the bids haven’t been good enough. The interest around Jens is great, and there’s a long way left in the window. There’s still a lot that can happen, but as of now, it’s nowhere near anything.”
