Derek McInnes is refusing to rule out the prospect of Nico Raskin signing a new contract with Rangers.

The Belgian international midfielder was widely expected to leave the Ibrox club in the summer after impressing with his country at the World Cup Finals.

Rangers manager McInnes freely admits he was among those who felt Raskin would be sold and was frustrated at having to leave the player out of his side on several occasions at the start of this season while the speculation intensified.

After no suitable offer was received for the 25-year-old before the transfer window closed, he has become a mainstay in McInnes’ side, who have won seven and drawn one of their last eight domestic games.

Raskin’s current deal expires in the summer of 2028 and Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has stated there is no desire to sell any of their prize assets in the January window. 

McInnes is now hopeful of being able to work with Raskin for a much longer period of time than he had initially anticipated.

‘I normally leave those sort of contract discussions between the club and the player and the agent,’ said McInnes. ‘But if there was an opportunity to work with Nico beyond that, then obviously it’s something that I would not be against.

‘I’m enjoying working with him but, equally, I understand players may well have other aspirations.

‘Nico said to me that he could have had one or two things that he could have jumped at in the transfer window. But he’s keen to be here and be part of a successful team. 

'Unless something comes up that really turns his head and really turns Rangers’ head, then we keep working together.

‘How long that remains, whether it’s to the end of the season or whether it’s beyond that, too many things can happen. I always thought I would enjoy working with Nico. 

'I always thought that there was this assumption when I came in that he was going to be leaving.

‘I’m kind of thinking, “Here’s what you could have had”, that sort of thing. But I’m glad he’s here, to be honest. And I think that he, like a few others since the window closed, there’s just that clarity of the situation and he just focuses on training, performing and improving.

‘The ideal time for any club is to do business in the summer. January’s not a window you want to be losing key players, but you have seen in January, over the years at various clubs, clubs can bid above and beyond maybe what a player’s value is.

‘For us, Nico’s such a key player. I think the fact that I’ve played him every game he’s available would suggest that. 

'He brings his experience, even though he’s still relatively young in his career. He’s still got a lot of steps ahead of him.

‘There’s nothing wrong with ambition. I think Nico gets a good profile from the national team, his profile from the World Cup. Nico’s been a key player for us and hopefully he’s a key player in a successful Rangers team this season.’

After last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Dundee, Rangers will bid to resume winning ways at home to St Johnstone.

McInnes is relishing the clash with the club where he began his managerial career back in 2007 and revealed he still refers to principles he established while in charge at McDiarmid Park.

‘I still look at my notes I kept from stuff that I wanted to do back then, a lot of fundamentals as a manager,’ he said. ‘I still work strongly towards that, those kinds of core values, what my team needs to look like, what my training needs to look like.

‘I enjoyed my time at St Johnstone. They gave me an opportunity. We won promotion in my first full season as manager and they were so good to me. I had a brilliant grounding so I’ve got a lot to thank them for.

‘But I don’t think there’s too many differences with how I work now and how the approach is. As you get older as a manager, the big thing is you’ve got to want to do it. 

'If it’s hard work getting your head off the pillow in the morning and getting yourself into work, then it’s probably not for you.

‘I would say that to any young manager or any older manager. It’s like you’ve got to really want to do it. I really wanted to do it back then and I still really want to do it now.’