Often described as a ‘number 6’, his position would be summed up as a ‘holding midfielder’, looking to get his foot on the ball and create turnovers in play.
On first look this is what Belgian Nicolas Raskin would bring to Rangers, as the Ibrox side attempt to prise him away from Standard Liege with just 6-months left on his current contract.
Currently coached by former Celtic boss Ronny Delia, the side, currently sixth in the top division, look keen to offload the player who has his heart set on a move out of Belgium.
Rangers boss Michael Beale has reiterated his desire to add ‘variety’ to his midfield to keep both his own players and opposition managers guessing when it comes to the starting XI on a weekly basis.
Raskin would certainly add competition to a deep lying spot in the centre of the park, with John Lundstram, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and James Sands already vying for a starting spot.
The 21-year-old can also boast a varied array of passing to go alongside his hard tackling, with a pass completion rate of just over 83% so far this season, which would appear to serve him well in the combative nature of the Scottish top flight.
A key characteristic of Beale’s trademark style has been the desire for his side to move the ball quickly and break the opposition lines, a trait that Raskin displayed regularly during his time in the pro league as he often acted as the catalyst when turning defence into attack.
Raskin seems to represent an urgency in Rangers’ transfer business, with the need to inject quality into the first team more pressing with each game as clubs approach the business end of the season.
