Nico Raskin alarm bells ring at Rangers amid 49ers transfer masterplan as Aston Villa talks 'start'
That's according to Ibrox legend Stuart McCall - who hopes the Belgian international can remain in Glasgow amid reports of talks with Aston Villa.
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Andrew Cavenagh and his partners from the San Francisco 49ers completed their £75million takeover earlier this summer and immediately announced plans to plough another £20million into the Ibrox coffers.
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CEO Patrick Stewart has already promised new boss Russell Martin he'll be handed a significant chunk of the substantial eight-figure sum to bring in recruits.
However, the scale of the rebuild required for Rangers to close the gap on Celtic could see the club cash-in on their prize assets - with Raskin leading the valuations after establishing himself as a mainstay of the Belgian national side.
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Het Nieuwsblad report that a potential Scottish Premiership departure is escalating for the 24-year-old with Aston Villa.
It is claimed that talks between the Premier League side and the player's entourage "have already started" with a deal depending on "the negotiations between the clubs and the ambitions of Raskin himself."
With the World Cup rapidly approaching, it is also noted that Belgium boss Rudi Garcia "welcomes" the move as he wants to see Raskin form a "close bond" with Villa stars Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana.
But McCall has urged the owners to proceed with caution over a player he previously scouted while working at Sheffield United.
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He told the Sunday Post: "I really like watching Raskin play for Rangers every time I see him because he gives everything he's got - and he's a good player.
"Raskin ticks the box of a good character to me. I don't know him personally but I watched him before he went to Rangers.
"At Sheffield United, our head of recruitment asked me to take a look at Raskin. I watched him in a few games and liked what I saw. He wants to be in there fighting.
"I saw him having that wee niggle at Callum McGregor in one of the Old Firm games. He's never happy to accept a defeat.
Nick Walsh speaks to Nicolas Raskin and Callum McGregor -Credit:SNS Group
"Every game has got to hurt you if it doesn't go well for Rangers. From my point of view - and as a Rangers supporter watching him - I'd definitely love him to be in our dressing room for the next few years.
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"Recruitment is going to be massive again this summer. You have a lot of fringe players who have been brought to the club who, really, mentality-wise have been wide of the mark.
"It's OK having good players but the bottom line is you need more than that to play for Rangers and win titles.
"Good players who are excellent characters will take you a long way. And you know you're getting that from Raskin."
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
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