It may be fair to properly judge Derek McInnes when the transfer window has come to a close, with the new Glasgow Rangers boss still figuring out his best starting lineup amid this ongoing squad overhaul at Ibrox.
And yet, at such a mammoth club, there’s no hope of patience or a ‘bedding-in period’. Results are needed from the word go.
As Russell Martin found out a year ago, things can quickly spiral in Glasgow amid a slow start, with McInnes already without a win in three heading into Thursday’s vital return leg against Jagellonia.
Already five points off the pace back in the Premiership, the Gers need to make improvements, and fast. Keeping Nicolas Raskin on board would certainly be one way to aid matters too.
Nicolas Raskin’s display in numbers vs Hibs
Following a sparkling World Cup with Belgium, it looked almost a certainty that Raskin would be on his way this summer, amid notable links to the likes of Hull City and Real Betis.
An influx of midfield arrivals had also seemingly been with the 25-year-old’s exit in mind, with Dan Neil, Cammy Devlin and Vanja Dragojevic all brought into the building.
And yet, the decision to start Raskin against Hibernian showcased that he remains a key figure in this Rangers set-up, with the likes of Neil and Devlin still yet to convince, while Dragojevic was shifted to right-back at the weekend.
It wasn’t a perfect display from Raskin, it must be said, against the Edinburgh side, although he was one of the brighter notes, boasting a 95% pass accuracy rate in his 68-minute outing, alongside attempting three shots on goal.
Considering he hasn’t had a full pre-season, the former Standard Liege man can be excused somewhat for a sense of rustiness, having failed to win a single tackle or duel on Sunday afternoon.
|
Raskin vs Hibs |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Record |
|
Minutes |
68 |
|
Touches |
55 |
|
Shots |
3 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy |
95% |
|
Succ. dribbles |
0/1 |
|
Ball lost |
9 |
|
Carries |
26 |
|
Tackles |
0 |
|
Duels won |
0/2 |
A start for Raskin had no doubt been deserved following his bright display off the bench in Poland in midweek, with there still a sense that Rangers are a better team with him in it, fresh from his 13 goals and assists in the Premiership last season.
Signed for just £1.7m back in January 2023, Raskin has been one of the true success stories of recent years in Glasgow – could McInnes be set to seal another?
How Rangers could land their best signing since Raskin
McInnes certainly can’t argue with the backing he’s had, following his arrival from Hearts, having already seen nine new faces brought in, following the swift capture of Daisuke Yokota last week.
A tenth new addition also appears imminent, by all accounts, with Rangers Review reporting that PSV Eindhoven’s Couhaib Driouech is set to undergo a medical on Tuesday, ahead of a £7m move to Ibrox.
The Moroccan winger is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Light Blues, plus the option of a one-year extension, with this the solution that Rangers have no doubt been craving after seeing the likes of Mikey Moore on the flanks.
Like with Raskin’s arrival in 2023, this feels like an incoming of genuine quality, with Driouech having enjoyed a bright 2025/26 campaign, even while failing to nail down a regular starting role in Holland.
In all, he scored and assisted ten goals in the Eredivisie last time out, despite only starting five games, having also created seven ‘big chances’, while averaging 0.7 key passes per game.
It is in the Champions League where Driouech particularly caught the eye, however, scoring and assisting five goals in just seven outings last season, including notching a brace away at Anfield against Liverpool.
Considering the 24-year-old didn’t actually start a single league game in 2024/25, the Gers are largely banking on what he’s shown in flashes in Eindhoven, alongside his stellar prior form for Excelsior.
In 2023/24, for instance, the right-winger sealed his move to PSV after scoring and assisting 12 goals in the Dutch top-flight, while also averaging a standout 2.3 successful dribbles per game.
In terms of total successful dribbles completed, Driouech ranked fifth in the division that season, highlighting just what a game-changing, dynamic forward he is at his best.
Considering the Eredivisie is the 11th best league in the world, as per Global Football Rankings, the hope will be that the £7m man can make a smooth transition to life in Glasgow, just as Raskin has done after leaving behind the Belgian Pro League, ranked ninth best in the world.
At a time of so much churn at Ibrox over recent years, Raskin has been the one constant, a player who’s seen off a string of managers to emerge as a central, leading figure at the club.
Considering the sparkling form Driouech has shown both domestically and in Europe of late, the hope will be that he can well follow suit this season and beyond.
Whether Raskin stays or goes, the Gers do certainly need a new talismanic figure to come to the fore – might it be the Moroccan?
