Rangers manager Derek McInnes expects midfielder Nico Raskin to remain at the Scottish Premiership club after a proposed transfer to Turkish side Besiktas collapsed.
The 25-year-old Belgian international made a surprise start for Rangers in their 2-1 victory over Falkirk on Tuesday night, having previously been left out of two matchday squads over the past week amidst ongoing transfer speculation.
Speaking after the match, McInnes confirmed that Raskin had an opportunity to move earlier in the day, but neither the player nor the Glasgow club entertained the offer. He acknowledged that the situation was hardly ideal preparation for the fixture, but praised Raskin for continuing to train every day with the squad.
McInnes emphasized that Raskin brings vital experience to the team despite his relatively young age. The manager explained that he had always been keen to utilize the midfielder, noting that the squad frequently benefits from his composure and maturity on the pitch.
Lawrence Shankland double secures Falkirk victory
On the pitch, Rangers secured back-to-back Premiership victories thanks to two fine strikes from captain Lawrence Shankland. The clinical double brought the Scotland international striker's goal tally to four for the season.
McInnes revealed he was initially screaming for Shankland to leave the ball for teammate Djeidi Gassama during the first goal. However, the captain ignored the bench instruction and fired a fantastic strike into the back of the net to give Rangers the lead.
The manager described the performance as a proper captain's display, admitting Shankland had felt the weight of expectations following a difficult start to life at Ibrox. McInnes noted that the team had previously suffered from a lack of speed and creativity in attacking areas, but said improvements have shown over the last two games.
Rangers, based at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, are one of the most successful clubs in Scottish football history. The Premiership side has been working to rebuild momentum early in the domestic campaign after experiencing mixed performances in opening fixtures.
Falkirk missed chances and Aasgaard transfer
Falkirk manager John McGlynn admitted his side paid the price for failing to capitalize on key opportunities in the second half. McGlynn stated that Falkirk had two great chances that could have put them 2-1 or 3-1 ahead before Shankland punished them.
The Falkirk boss added that giving Shankland any space inside the penalty box inevitably leads to punishment, pointing out that the Rangers skipper has a recurring habit of scoring against Falkirk.
While Raskin is set to stay in Glasgow, Norwegian midfielder Thelo Aasgaard has officially departed Rangers. The player completed an initial loan move to Belgian Pro League side Anderlecht on Tuesday evening.
Anderlecht will pay Rangers just short of £1 million for the initial loan deal. The Brussels-based club also holds an option to make the transfer permanent for a fee of around £4 million.
With the transfer window developments settling and back-to-back league wins secured, Rangers will look to build consistency in the Scottish Premiership as McInnes integrates Raskin back into his core midfield setup.
