Rangers icon demands monster fee for Nico Raskin while claiming he's 'better' than £25m-rated Celtic star

Light Blues icon Barry Ferguson believes if the going rate for Belgian midfielders in the SPFL Premiership is upwards of £20m - then Rangers shouldn’t settle for any less for Nico Raskin than Celtic are for Arne Engels.

Ferguson simply believes midfielder Raskin is ‘better’ than his Hoops Belgian counterpart - who has been the subject of two rejected transfer bids from English giants West Ham. Celtic also rejected three bids from Nottingham Forest in January for Engels - the highest reaching £25m. If the 22-year old is to depart Parkhead this summer, it would be for a transfer fee around this price range.

Raskin has been a consistent performer at Ibrox since his move from boyhood club Standard Liege in 2023. However, now his future at Ibrox remains uncertain after a strong World Cup attracted transfer interest from across Europe. The 25-year old featured in every game for Belgium as they reached the quarter-final stage. New Rangers manager Derek McInnes is a big admirer of the player - who came on as a substitute in their defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europe despite the outside noise.

Rangers should up the ante for Raskin amid Engels talk

Speaking on GO Radio, five-time SPL winner Ferguson said: "If you look at the squad, the glaring one is Nico Raskin. He had a really good World Cup for Belgium. Is he going to stay or going to go? You'd be looking at between £15-20m for Nico Raskin. You are not selling him for £10m.

“He's a Belgium international and I know he never started the first game but I thought he was probably Belgium's best player at the World Cup. He's worth at least £20m. If Arne Engels is going for more than £25m, come on. Nico Raskin is better than Arne Engels. I think Rangers have got a price in their head and if that is met (he'll go). It will be interesting to see if it actually does happen."

Former Red Devils boss Rudi Garcia had a soft spot for Raskin, selecting him for almost every qualifier as well as the World Cups finals. Meanwhile, Engels hasn’t been capped since 2024 - but will have a new chance to prove himself to new boss Mark van Bommel, who was appointed in July.

Raskin a player McInnes has always ‘admired’

Despite the West Ham interest in Engels, Hoops boss Martin O’Neill is keeping in his first team plans until he’s told otherwise. McInnes has now hinted that he’ll follow the same logic going forward with Raskin. Ahead of their Premiership clash with Hibs on Sunday, he said: “I've always admired Nico. I've always wanted to be his manager. There are certain boys you are drawn to. I think that he has that standard.

“He has a standard, more often than not, that fits this club. I think he cares for the club, I think he cares about results. He's impressed through his training. If he can just play as he's trained, then he's going to be a good option for us. We probably got him on a bit sooner on Thursday. I just felt we needed his know-how about the pitch. I think while he's here, we'll use him because there are too many variables still about if he could stay or if he is going to go.”