You won’t be a Red Devil if you don’t sign for the Light Blues
Raskin’s Belgium warning
BELGIUM Under-21 boss Jacky Mathijssen is worried he’ll have to give Nicolas Raskin the chop unless the Rangers target can find a way out of his Standard Liege limbo.
But the 21-year-old midfield ace has been told a move to the Light Blues could be just what he needs to scorch a path all the way into the Red Devils’ senior side.
It’s been two months since Raskin featured for his club side after a bitter fall-out over his refusal to extend his contract – which expires this summer – saw him dumped from boss Ronny Deila’s first team.
But with this summer’s Under-21 Euros coming up, Mathijssen has warned his key man he might be left behind unless he can get his future resolved.
Speaking exclusively to Record Sport, the coach said: “Nico’s situation at Standard is a concern.
“I know he realises too that if he wants to be part of our Under-21 squad for the Euros this summer he needs to be playing.
“It’s very important for me as well as Nico that he finds a good club. Hopefully it’s sorted soon.”
Ibrox boss Michael Beale confessed last week he was interested in the Liege playmaker and Rangers are understood to eyeing up an initial move on a pre-contract.
But while a number of other clubs have been in touch with Standard to express their interest in taking Raskin this month, we understand the Jupiler Pro League outfit have so far had no direct contact from Gers chiefs.
However, Mathijssen – who is assisted by former Gers ace Thomas Buffel – believes a move to Scotland would suit his star man.
He said: “The Rangers fans will be delighted if he goes to Glasgow.
“He’s a player who is always all-in. He’s got a good heart, is always ready to work but has excellent technique too and is very flexible tactically. He can play No.8, he can play in the pockets.
“That’s how he plays for me in the Under-21s. He’s very young but his potential is high.
“My assistant Thomas played in Glasgow with Rangers and he knows very well the pressures there so I’m sure he’ll be in touch as soon as this is made official to help him.”
He might be in the bad books with his club but Liege legend Jelle van Damme insists Raskin is no naughty boy.
Ex-Ajax, Southampton and Wolves defender van Damme, who won 31 caps for Belgium said: “I know Nico a little. I played for Standard Liege for five years and I still go to quite a lot of their games.
“He’s a good kid and I really do think he’d fit in well at Rangers.
“He’s already a top-level player but there’s the potential there to get even better, stronger and bigger.
“There has been a lot written about him not training with Liege right now. But for me, he is just a good kid who wants to play football.”