Much will be made of what new Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin does in the transfer market this summer.
Plenty of the Ibrox faithful are writing him off already, but by making astute signings and winning on the pitch, he will be able to get everyone behind him.
The Light Blues have been linked with a few players in recent weeks. With investment coming from the 49ers, this summer marks a critical turning point for the club.
Dor Turgeman is a striker who the club have reportedly opened talks to sign, while former Wolves centre-back Conor Coady is also a rumoured target this summer.
Both would be solid signings and signify that the club mean business ahead of the 2025/26 season, no doubt about that.
The caveat being, however, that the Gers may have to sell a player or two in the process, especially with several prized assets attracting attention.
Hamza Igamane has been on the radar of Everton since late last year. Indeed, the Toffees even sent scouts to watch him perform against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.
Mohamed Diomande is another who the Premier League side are reportedly keen on signing this summer. The midfielder enjoyed a solid first full season at Ibrox and now clubs from down south are eyeing him up.
It is Nico Raskin who is attracting the most attention following a stunning campaign in Glasgow, however. Will Martin keep the midfielder for another season? Or might he be tempted to strike when the iron is hot and secure a magnificent profit on the Belgian?
Nico Raskin's 2024/25 season in numbers
Raskin won both the Rangers’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards and both were well deserved indeed.
Despite struggling with an injury through pre-season and having to wait until September to make his first appearance of the campaign, Raskin made up for lost time.
He began dominating games alongside Diomande at the heart of the pitch and was even made captain when James Tavernier was injured. He led the club to an impressive 3-0 Old Firm victory at the turn of the year, before scoring and assisting in the same fixture a few months later.
That 3-2 win was the Light Blues’ first at Parkhead since October 2020 and his leadership qualities were regularly on display.
In the top flight, the former Standard Liege starlet not only registered 14 goal contributions, but he also created nine big chances and averaged 1.3 key passes per game.
For someone typically known for his defensive output, these attacking statistics are certainly impressive. From a defensive point of view, the Belgian averaged 2.8 tackles per match, along with winning 6.6 total duels and recovering 5.6 balls per game in the Scottish Premiership.
Metric
Premiership
Europa League
Goals
4
1
Assists
10
1
Big chances created
9
1
Tackles per game
2.8
3.7
Total duels won per game
6.6
6.4
This combination of attacking dynamism and tenacity when looking to win the ball back established Raskin as the club’s bright spark last term.
His performances even led to a debut for Belgium and there is no doubt his future lies away from Scotland.
Should Martin cash in this summer, the Light Blues could well target someone who is in a similar mould as a player…
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As reported by TEAMtalk earlier this week, however, Rangers are battling several European clubs in the race to sign Colo Colo starlet Vicente Pizarro.
He won the Chilean Primera División in 2022 with his current club, and they are reportedly demanding a fee of around £4m to secure his services.
Given the fact Rangers could lose Diomande or Raskin this summer, signing another midfielder is high on Martin’s priority list.
Pizarro would be an ideal replacement for the Belgian starlet, as he has exuded similar qualities during his stint with Colo Colo.
Why Vicente Pizarro could be Rangers’ next Nico Raskin
Pizarro tends to operate as a defensive midfielder for his club, making 19 appearances during the current campaign.
While his attacking statistics may not be as impressive as the ones Raskin registered (four goal contributions in 19 matches), Pizarro has excelled in other areas, especially during the Copa Libertadores.
Indeed, when compared to his peers in South America’s most prestigious club competition, he ranks in the top 11% for passes attempted (66.41) per 90 and in the top 16% for pass completion percentage (88.2%).
Elsewhere, the midfielder even ranks in the top 5% for interceptions (2.18) and in the top 12% for clearances (2.62) per 90 in the competition this season.
These statistics suggest that he could be an excellent like-for-like Raskin replacement. Someone who would be able to slot in seamlessly next to Diomande when the 2025/26 campaign starts.
Pizarro was profiled by analyst and content creator, Kai Watson, amid the reported interest in him last month.
He was even dubbed “impressive” by Ben Mattinson last year following a performance for Colo Colo and it is clear that the midfielder would be an interesting signing.
He played 45 minutes for Chile against Argentina in the recent World Cup qualifier, although he couldn’t prevent his country suffering a 1-0 loss.
Given the fact he is already an established international player at the age of 22, it means Rangers could make a big statement of intent by signing him in the coming weeks.
He could turn out to be another player who the club bring in for a relatively small fee that will secure a massive profit in the coming years.
Much will depend on whether Raskin stays or goes this summer. Whatever happens, being linked with players such as Pizarro is only a good sign.
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ByTom Cunningham