Derek McInnes has come out swinging in support of Nico Raskin, giving the Rangers midfielder one of the strongest endorsements you will hear from a manager, even as talk of a summer exit continues to swirl around Ibrox.
McInnes, who took charge of Rangers earlier this year, did not shy away from the transfer speculation surrounding the Belgian. Instead he tackled it head on, making clear just how highly he rates Raskin as a player and as a presence within his squad.
Raskin joined Rangers in 2023 from Standard Liege and has been a consistent performer in the middle of the park since arriving in Glasgow. He brings energy, physicality and a real drive to win the ball back, qualities that have made him a favourite with supporters who appreciate hard-working midfielders.
But despite that popularity and despite the backing of his manager, the reality of modern football means his future at the club is far from certain. Interest from elsewhere is understood to be genuine, and Rangers as a club are always going to have to weigh up the financial side of any serious offer that comes their way.
McInnes, speaking candidly on the situation, made it clear he wants Raskin to stay. The manager described him as exactly the type of player you want in your dressing room, someone who competes hard, takes responsibility and sets a standard for those around him. That kind of public backing from a manager carries real weight, and it signals that any club looking to take Raskin away from Ibrox will not be doing so without a fight.
The honest truth though, as McInnes himself acknowledged, is that football is a business. Rangers cannot simply block every exit if a player decides he wants a new challenge or if an offer arrives that makes sense for all parties. What the manager can do is make his position known, and he has done exactly that.
For Raskin himself, it must be a boost to hear his manager speak so positively about him in public. Players respond to trust, and McInnes is clearly building a relationship with his squad based on straight talking rather than vague platitudes.
Rangers fans will be hoping the kind words translate into the midfielder pulling on the light blue again next season. Stability in the centre of the park has not always been easy to come by at Ibrox in recent years, and Raskin offers exactly the kind of reliable, combative presence that a team pushing for titles and European football needs.
The summer transfer window always brings uncertainty, and Rangers will be no different to any other club in dealing with speculation around key players. But with McInnes so openly enthusiastic about Raskin, at least supporters know the manager is doing everything he can to keep his best players together as he looks to put his own stamp on the squad.
Whether Raskin stays or goes, the endorsement from McInnes speaks volumes about what the player has brought to Rangers and the regard in which he is held at the club.