“We’re keeping them”- Russell Martin Takes a BOLD STEP to Keep Two Key Players Despite Nottingham Pressures from Top Clubs and Gers Would be Happy with This Update

Russell Martin Makes Firm Rangers Call on Igamane and Raskin as Transfer Interest Mounts

Rangers manager Russell Martin is determined to keep hold of key midfield duo Hamza Igamane and Nicolas Raskin this summer, as the Ibrox club prepare for a pivotal season under new leadership.

Sources close to the club have confirmed to Football Insider that Martin views both players as central to his rebuild and has made it clear to the Rangers hierarchy that they should not be sold, despite interest from clubs in Europe and beyond.

Martin, who took charge at Ibrox earlier this month following his departure from Southampton, has inherited a squad full of potential but short on consistency — something he hopes to address by building around young, dynamic talents like Igamane and Raskin.

With Champions League qualifying fixtures set to begin next month, the new Gers boss is under immediate pressure to deliver results while also implementing his possession-focused style of football.

The decision to retain Igamane and Raskin comes as no surprise, given the qualities both players offer. Belgian international Raskin has established himself as a technical and industrious presence in the heart of midfield since joining from Standard Liège, while Igamane, a Moroccan youth international who arrived in January, has impressed with his energy, vision and ability to break the lines.

Martin is believed to have been impressed by footage and data analysis on both players prior to taking the job, and has since held individual talks with them to outline their roles in his system. A source close to the club said:

“Russell Martin is absolutely clear. He wants to build around Raskin and Igamane. They fit perfectly with his style — technically strong, brave on the ball, and tactically intelligent.”

Interest from abroad has been growing, particularly for Raskin, whose performances in both domestic and European competitions last season drew admiring glances from clubs in Germany and France. Igamane, meanwhile, has caught the eye of scouts in Spain and the Netherlands, though Rangers remain confident they can hold onto both players.

The club’s stance on the duo is also seen as a signal of intent. After a stop-start campaign last season and another managerial change, Rangers are eager to stabilise and push for consistency both in the Scottish Premiership and in Europe. Martin’s commitment to keeping his top talent is part of a broader plan to return the club to the summit of Scottish football.

As Rangers prepare to embark on a new chapter, the retention of Igamane and Raskin could provide the spine of Martin’s project. With a long summer ahead, and transfer speculation sure to persist, the ball is now in Rangers’ court to back their manager — not just with new signings, but by resisting the temptation to cash in on prized assets.