Rangers could once again find themselves resisting Turkish advances when the January transfer window opens, with Besiktas preparing a £12.7million offer to tempt midfielder Nicolas Raskin away from Ibrox.

The Turkish giants mounted a fierce pursuit late in the summer transfer window that ultimately failed, but with Raskin recently admitting he was mentally prepared for a new challenge after over three years at Rangers, the upcoming window presents a defining dilemma for Derek McInnes and the Ibrox board.

On paper, rejecting a £12.7m (€15m) approach for a player central to Rangers‘ midfield might seem like a straightforward decision. However, cold hard football economics complicate the picture.

Besiktas reportedly lining up £12.7m move for Nicolas Raskin in January! Thoughts? 🤔

Rangers risk Premiership title race collapse if they accept Besiktas’ £12.7m Raskin offer

While Raskin’s contract technically runs until June 2028, football’s financial reality dictates that player values drop significantly once a contract crosses down toward 18 months remaining in January, and plummets further when entering the summer of 2027 with just 12 months left on his deal. If Rangers hold out past January, his valuation will naturally depreciate as he enters his final year.

Raskin’s market value on Transfermarkt peaked at €17m (£14.3m) following a sparkling 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with Belgium. However, after slipping down the national team pecking order behind Romeo Lavia under new Red Devils boss Mark van Bommel and failing to secure a move away from the Premiership, Transfermarkt’s October update saw his valuation fall directly to €15m (£12.7m).

Stats reveal why Raskin is McInnes’ tactical engine

Yet measuring Raskin’s worth purely through transfer figures ignores his vital tactical influence on the pitch. Underlying Scottish Premiership data this season – courtesy of FotMob – proves that Raskin is arguably Rangers’ most irreplaceable engine room asset, having re-established himself as a key figure after returning to the fold after the transfer window closed.

Beyond his tactical metrics, the 25-year-old Belgian acts as the social glue within McInnes’ squad. On the back of Rangers’ dominant 3-0 League Cup win against Celtic last month, it was Raskin who organised and led a group of 11 players – predominantly summer recruits – on a Glasgow coffee date to integrate new arrivals into the club culture.

A quick scan of the community reaction on TalkingPoints highlights the frustration supporters feel regarding Raskin’s reported price tag. User bryce noted that Rangers would be making a mistake by upsetting the balance of the squad for £12.7m, arguing that the club are likelier to bank a bigger sum in the summer if they win the title.

Similarly, another fan explained that a £12.7m offer from Besiktas is not good enough to sanction Raskin’s exit in January, pitching £15m and a substantial sell-on clause as a more acceptable package.

Meanwhile, the board’s recent update to the Fan Advisory Board – noting that supporters should not expect significant January transfer activity at Ibrox unless circumstances force their hand – underlines the difficulty of mid-season recruitment. Finding a ready-made replacement in January who can instantly adapt to Scottish football, deliver 1.2 final-third turnovers per game, and match Raskin’s leadership is an immense challenge.

Unless Besiktas return with a figure around £15m alongside structured add-ons, Rangers must stand firm. The short-term cash may look tempting, but the cost of risking a Premiership title race is far greater.

In the summer, Rangers News learned from multiple sources, including those close to Raskin, that the midfielder has his heart set on seeking a new challenge, as he believes he has done everything he can at the club.

While he is already one of the key players in the Gers’ title push this term, he almost certainly will not be in Govan at the start of the 2026-27 season. One will hope that there are already some discussions in the Rangers headquarters about giving Raskin a contract extension to preserve his value because selling him in January – even for £12.7m – is not an option for McInnes and his aspirations to bring glory back to Ibrox.