Emilio is an experienced football journalist at Football FanCast with over six years of experience covering transfer news, the Premier League and the business of football. Since beginning his career in 2019, he has established himself as a knowledgeable voice in football journalism, providing insight into some of the game's biggest stories.  

After graduating with first-class honours from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019, Emilio began his journalism career at Snack Media, now part of Valnet. He has since written for several of the company's football publications, including Vital Football, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast.
 

Throughout his career, Emilio has developed an extensive understanding of English football, building trusted relationships with industry contacts that help inform his reporting. His work combines transfer insight with an interest in the financial and commercial aspects of the modern game. Away from football journalism, Emilio enjoys travelling the world and spending time in the boxing ring.

Rangers have a cup final within touching distance, but Derek McInnes will want fewer scares when his side face Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday.

The winners will return to the national stadium on December 13 to face either Hearts or Hibs, and McInnes has already watched Rangers send Celtic packing in this competition.

Dan Neil scored twice and Kevin Kelsy also struck in September's 3-0 quarter-final win at Ibrox, but now comes another test against a club the Rangers boss knows well, and a chance to turn that derby result into something more.

Rangers won 1-0 at Pittodrie in August, and they would happily take a repeat on Saturday, with the Dons standing between them and a December cup final.

Wednesday's trip to Hearts showed why there is still work to do, as Rangers escaped Tynecastle with a 2-2 draw after Olwethu Makhanya headed home in the 89th minute.

Kelsy had put the visitors ahead, only for Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller to swing the match towards Hearts after the break. Makhanya rescued a point, but Rangers can't keep depending on late escapes.

They remain four points behind Celtic in the Premiership, and Saturday offers a welcome chance to move closer to silverware.

Aberdeen have problems of their own after losing 1-0 at home to Falkirk on Wednesday, and Stephen Robinson was unhappy with both the performance and the chances his players failed to take.

That should give Rangers encouragement, although a wounded opponent can be awkward company in a game with so much riding on it.

For Nicolas Raskin, who started at Tynecastle, the immediate challenge is helping Rangers earn that return trip to Hampden.

His future has generated plenty of noise again, with Sporx, citing Fanatik, claiming earlier this month that Besiktas had settled personal terms worth £4 million a year with Raskin and were nearing a £14m January deal with Rangers, plus bonuses.

However, a new report offers supporters reason to believe he will be around for the rest of this campaign.

Nicolas Raskin wants to stay at Rangers in January despite Besiktas claims

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Raskin has no wish to seek a January transfer while Rangers are chasing the title.

The Belgian is said to feel “too much respect” for the club to demand an exit halfway through the season, and that jars with the message from Turkey.

Those claims pointed towards a January switch, but O'Rourke's information paints a very different picture, with Raskin understood to be content at Ibrox and determined to contribute to the title challenge.

There's also questions as to whether Besiktas could finance a deal of that size in January, following their unsuccessful summer approach.

Rangers may still have a difficult conversation ahead. Raskin's contract expires in 2028, and O'Rourke reports that a summer departure is the more likely outcome.

By then, his deal would have a year remaining, leaving the club with a decision over how best to protect his transfer value.

For McInnes, keeping Raskin through the winter would mean one less major hole to fill during a demanding season.

Aberdeen come first, though, and helping Rangers reach a final would be a useful way for the midfielder to answer the latest round of speculation.