Nico Raskin on Real Betis transfer 'radar' as definitive update emerges over 'Brazilian Paul Pogba'
Real Betis are set to test Rangers ' resolve over Nico Raskin, according to a report.
The Belgian impressed last term despite Gers falling well short in the title race and ending the season trophyless.
That's led to him being linked with moves away from Ibrox and with Raskin two years out from the end of his current contract, the window in which Rangers can realise his maximum value is closing.
Now Spanish outlet muchodeporte claim that Betis have Raskin on their radar as they hunt midfield replacements.
American international Johnny Cardoso has left for La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, while William Carvalho looks destined for the exit door as well.
The Portuguese international failed to report last week for pre-season testing and could well be on his way to Qatar.
The Seville-based club have seemingly identified Raskin as one of a number of replacement options this summer.
It would mean forking out a significant fee however, with Gers keen to avoid repeating past mistakes and letting their best players leave for nothing at the end of their deals.
One player who won't be arriving at Ibrox is Metinho.
The player dubbed the 'Brazilian Paul Pogba' had been linked with the Light Blues and a £4million fee quoted.
However, Basel are on the brink of making his switch from Troyes permanent after he helped them win the Swiss Super League title last season.
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Scotsman
18 minutes ago
- Scotsman
How Rangers fringe men fared against Middlesbrough with rare £4.5m sighting and new signing at back
Rangers come back from 2-0 down to claim draw in Ibrox friendly Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This must have felt like a largely fruitless journey for the Panathinaikos scout dispatched to cast an eye over Rangers before the teams' crucial Champions League reunion on Wednesday night. Russell Martin's side head into that contest buoyed by the strength of their second-half midweek performance against the Greeks that yielded two goals and a decent first-leg advantage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rather than trying to maintain that momentum, however, Martin elected to take a more cautious approach in this friendly warm-up against Middlesbrough, completely altering the starting line-up and giving those who will likely feature in Athens all or the majority of the afternoon off to put their feet up. Rangers winger Oscar Cortes and Middlesbrough's Neto Borges in action during a pre-season friendly at Ibrox Stadium. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Just two of Rangers' summer signings featured from the start, midweek goal hero Djeidi Gassama and defender Emmanuel Fernandez, while John Souttar, Joe Rothwell and Hamza Igamane were among those excused duty altogether. With Robin Propper shipped back to FC Twente earlier in the day, youngster Zander Hutton started alongside Fernandez in a makeshift backline, with Bailey Rice filling that role at the start of the second half. This was all about protecting the key players rather than risking unnecessary injuries but it also presented an opportunity for those on the fringes to stake a last-minute claim for Champions League inclusion. Few, however, took it. Rather than playing their way into contention, most of those involved in the first hour here played their way out of it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was a rare sighting of Oscar Cortes, initially in an unfamiliar right wing-back role where he looked far more comfortable motoring forward than tracking back, before a half-time tactical switch spared him any more defensive responsibilities. Middlesbrough's Neto Borges celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 over Rangers at Ibrox. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Rangers were obliged to shell out £4.5m to sign Cortes this summer after an underwhelming loan spell last year where he spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch. There were a few glimpses of his capabilities here but the 21-year-old remains a player with a lot to prove. Rangers were two goals down by the time Martin turned to his bench on the hour mark to make seven changes, getting minutes into the legs of those expected to start in Greece. The switch injected greater vibrancy into the performance, with Max Aarons crossing for fellow replacement Danilo to glance in a header before Findlay Curtis bundled in an equaliser after a header from Nicolas Raskin had been repelled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There were also a few anxious moments when Raskin and then Danilo were upended by a pair of hefty challenges, although both were able to continue. It was symptomatic of the energetic manner in which their opponents had approached the game all afternoon. Middlesbrough are preparing for a ninth season outside of the English top tier but they remain a big noise in the north-east as the size of their travelling support here underlined, a 7000-strong sea of red that filled most of the Broomloan stand. Boro don't return to competitive action until August 9 but there was no rust evident as they played with an edge and verve badly missing in most of Rangers' work in the early stages. Rangers substitute Findlay Curtis celebrates after scoring to make it 2-2 against Middlesbrough at Ibrox. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Boro scored after just nine minutes after Rangers failed to defend a simple corner into their box allowing Neto Borges – a late call-up to their starting XI – to poke a shot beyond Liam Kelly. Fernandez, a £2.5m recruit from Peterborough charged with stiffening up the Rangers backline, did not cover himself in glory trying to deal with it. Boro continued to pile on the pressure as Rangers wobbled, with Scotland striker Tommy Conway a lively presence at the apex of their attack. With their hosts creating little and denied a penalty by referee John Beaton for what looked like an obvious handball - Martin was sent off at half-time for querying the non-award - Middlesbrough doubled their lead when Dael Fry squeezed in a shot at the back post at the second time of asking. Then came the cavalry to dig Rangers out of a hole and bolster the feelgood factor ahead of the mission to Athens. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers had warned their supporters beforehand that 'a busy road network is anticipated due to the visit of the US President'. There was no sighting here of Donald Trump, although given the pro-US sentiment prevalent at Ibrox these days this would have been one of the few places where this particular orange man would likely have received a warm welcome during his visit to Scotland.
Daily Record
18 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Findlay Curtis rescues Rangers but Martin's marching orders show there's nothing friendly about it
The home side responded from two goals down to seal a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at Ibrox Russell Martin handed his fringe men their big chance to stake a claim ahead of Athens. But it was the emergence of his top team off the bench after an hour which ensured they head to Greece without momentum being ruined, coming from behind to seal a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough. Findlay Curtis followed up his wonder goal against Panathinaikos with a 79th minute equaliser after Danilo had halved Boro's two goal lead in a well fought friendly. But the big talking point arrived at half time when Martin failed to return to the sidelines for the second half - and it later emerged he'd been sent to the stands by John Beaton for over-stretching his arguments over a penalty shout. The Championship side blazed ahead after nine minutes when Law McCabe's in-swinging corner - after Scotland striker Tommy Conway had a shot blocked - was flicked on at the front post and bundled home by Neto Borges. Boro were well ahead in terms of first half chances created and Conway twice, McCabe and Delano Burgzorg went close while one-time Gers target Morgan Whittaker smacked a post. Cyriel Dessers brought a strong near post save from Sol Bryn and Rangers were denied a penalty when Luke Ayling's attempts to clear Connor Barron's corner saw the ball clearly strike his hand - something that incensed Martin heading down the tunnel at half time. Dale Fry made it 2-0 after 56 minutes when he ghosted in unchallenged at the back post to guide Whittaker's deep free kick home at the second attempt. Martin threw on the cavalry on the hour mark with James Tavernier, Max Aarons, Kieran Dowell, Nico Raskin, Findlay Curtis, Danilo and Nasser Djiga bolstering the ranks. Within four minutes Aarons and Danilo combined to half the deficit as the former's inswinging cross from the left was glanced home by the Brazilian. 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Nico Raskin's bite in the middle was key to that while Lyall Cameron's half time introduction brought an urgency and threat in behind the strikers with the ex-Dundee man voted man of the match for his efforts. The big takeaway is to not expect many changes to the starting line-up in Athens from that which took the field at Ibrox on Tuesday. Shake it up Martin said he'd make changes and he wasn't kidding with an entire team of fringe men stepping in from the side that started against Panathinaikos. Oscar Cortes at right back was a bold first half experiment and the Colombian looked hungry to get on the ball going forward where his ability to take a man on was clear. Teenager Zander Hutton lined up in the middle of defence beside Emmanuel Fernandez who brought a composure on the ball at the back as well as a physical presence. Djeidi Gassama came in from the start after his wonder goal off there bench against Pana and Cyriel Dessers and Josh Gentles made up the forward three. Gassama showed flashes of what he's all about, skinning his man and flashing dangerous balls across the face of goal. Dessers struggled for service though and looked way short of match sharpness. Martin sees red Russell Martin was conspicuous by his absence on the touchline after the break. Turns out he spent the second half n the club deck with the supporters having been sent to the stands by John Beaton. The Gers gaffer took issue with Beaton's failure to award a penalty shortly before the break when Connor Barron's corner clearly struck Boro defender Luke Ayling's hand. His protests overstepped the mark according to the whistler. But the gaffer later confirmed he'd kissed and made up with the officials. Con the man If Steve Clarke was watching he'll have liked what he saw from Tommy Conway. The Scotland striker showed exactly why he's become a regular in Clarke's squad with a dominant 75-minute run out leading the Boro line. Strong, a workhorse and with an eye for goal, Conway had a big chance blocked by Jefte early on before the visitors took the lead from the resultant corner. The big frontman then flashed a shot wide as he showed and an effort disallowed for offside which looked marginal. With 13 goals last season the 22-year-old is a bit of a favourite with the Middlesbrough fans and was a real handful for Gers' makeshift defence. Propper headache The morning confirmation of Robin Propper's exit to FC Twente began what Martin will hope is soon to be an exodus from his first team squad. A mammoth THIRTY SEVEN players were listed in the programme - taking up the full length of a page - in comparison to Middlesbrough's far more efficient 23. Propper's move back home means that is now cut to 36 but Gers chiefs know they need to streamline much further especially if they are to bring more new faces in before the end of August. Big earners including Jose Cifuentes, Rabbi Matondo, Ben Davies and Ridden Yilmaz were on the list but again nowhere to be seen in the match day squad and no doubt top the list of those needing moved on.
The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
Rangers boss Russell Martin SENT OFF by John Beaton in tunnel at half time during friendly with Middlesbrough
RANGERS boss Russell Martin was sensationally SENT OFF by John Beaton during today's pre-season friendly against Middlesbrough. Footage showed the new Ibrox gaffer taking in the second half of the match from the gantry - but rather than to get a better viewpoint SunSport understands it was because whistler Beaton ordered him from the technical area. 3 3 3 Footage during the 2-2 draw showed Martin attempting to get the match official's attention when appeals for a penalty against Luke Ayling for handball were waved away during the match. Afterwards, Martin admitted he had overstepped the mark with his protests, saying: "It was frustration a bit as well about the performance in the first half. "I didn't like the nergy or the body language of too many on the pitch. "I think we should have had a penalty. The fourth official didn't help the officials. "I'm a passionate guy and I probably overstepped the mark. "I enjoyed watching the second half from the stand ... it was a good view. "In friendlies I hope I don't have to spend too long up here. I went and apologised to the official. "I need to get used to how it works up here as well as down the road. "I got a good view of the game and he got peace and quiet." Rangers fans unfurl giant tifo ahead of Russell Martin's first match
