Celtic would laugh at the chaos in Rangers camp- 49ers wants to sell player, Russell wants to keep him

49ers Prepared to Sanction £20m Sale of “Sensational” Rangers Star Nicolas Raskin Despite Martin’s Opposition

Russell Martin’s tenure at Rangers could be dealt an early blow, with reports emerging that the club’s new owners — the 49ers Enterprises — are prepared to cash in on midfielder Nicolas Raskin, despite the manager’s desire to keep the Belgian international.

According to Football Insider, the Ibrox hierarchy are considering offers in the region of £20 million for the 23-year-old, who has attracted strong interest from Porto, Fiorentina and Marseille. The proposed fee would represent a staggering £19 million profit on the midfielder Rangers signed from Standard Liège for just £1 million in January 2023.

The American ownership group, who officially took control earlier this year, are said to be keen on initiating a long-term rebuild at the club. While that includes ambitious recruitment — with Dundee midfielder Josh Mulligan reportedly close to becoming the first signing of the Martin era — it may also involve parting ways with key assets to balance the books and reinvest in the squad.

Martin, appointed earlier this month after leaving Southampton, is understood to be eager to retain Raskin, who has become one of Rangers’ most consistent performers since his arrival. However, the 49ers’ willingness to act decisively in the market may limit the new manager’s influence in some transfer decisions.

Sources suggest Martin is “well aware” that some decisions this summer may be taken out of his hands, especially if lucrative offers arrive for key players. While the manager remains focused on bridging the gap to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, selling Raskin could represent both a financial windfall and a test of his adaptability in the early stages of his rebuild.

The player himself is said to be attracting significant admiration across Europe, with Porto, in particular, reportedly lining up a formal bid. Fiorentina and Marseille are also monitoring the situation closely.

Any potential departure would be a bitter pill for supporters to swallow, particularly given Raskin’s impact since his arrival. The Belgian has become a fan favourite due to his work rate, ball progression and composure in midfield. He was described as “utterly sensational” by football analyst John Walker earlier this season, and his sale would leave a notable void in Rangers’ engine room.

However, the club’s ambition under new ownership remains clear. Chairman Paraag Marathe recently outlined the 49ers’ vision upon arriving at Ibrox, stating: “We are excited to join Andrew and our other consortium of investors in a new era for this iconic club, and we are determined to build something that supporters can be proud of for years to come.”

That rebuild may come with difficult choices. If the club do sanction Raskin’s exit, it will mark the first significant sacrifice in the 49ers’ strategy to reshape Rangers into a sustainable, competitive force both domestically and in Europe.

With the transfer window heating up and Raskin’s future now in the spotlight, Rangers fans will be watching closely to see whether sentiment or strategy ultimately wins out at Ibrox.