Hull City have hit a major stumbling block after launching an ambitious opening bid in the region of £12-14 million for Rangers midfield ace Nicolas Raskin.
The Tigers are working hard behind the scenes to secure high-profile signings ahead of their highly anticipated return to the top flight of English football.
They have identified the Ibrox star as an ideal marquee addition to bolster their squad. However, negotiations with the Glasgow giants appear to have hit an immediate snag due to a significant disparity in valuation.
Raskin is currently facing an increasingly uncertain future at Ibrox, with the highly rated midfielder heavily linked with a potential exit in the summer transfer window.
The midfielder has seen his stock rise across Europe, and the Rangers hierarchy could face a difficult battle to keep hold of their prized asset as interest continues to mount.
At 25 years old, the player is approaching the peak years of his professional career, making him an incredibly attractive proposition for clubs operating in England and Italy.
The talented midfielder is currently away representing Belgium at the World Cup, which has further placed him into the international spotlight.
His current performances on the global stage mean that his club future could come much more into sharp focus immediately after the tournament concludes.
Rangers supporters will be watching his international exploits closely, knowing that strong displays could drive up his market value even further while bringing more potential suitors to the table.
Raskin was undoubtedly one of the Gers’ better individual performers in what was largely considered an underwhelming domestic campaign for the club last season.
He consistently provided a spark in the middle of the park, scoring six goals, providing seven assists, and creating an impressive 12 big chances in 33 Scottish Premiership appearances.
His technical ability, work rate, and vision allowed him to stand out in a side that frequently struggled for consistency during their domestic and European fixtures.
His impressive individual performances have seemingly attracted a lot of attention south of the border down in England, where clubs are eager to snap up proven midfield talent.
Meanwhile, Serie A outfit Bologna are also said to be heavily interested in securing his signature this summer.
The Italian side is currently coached by his former Belgium national youth boss Domenico Tedesco, who is well aware of Raskin’s qualities, adding extra substance to the ongoing transfer rumours.
Premier League new boys Hull City are genuinely interested in taking him to the MKM Stadium to lead their midfield transition, though their initial pursuit may already have hit a definitive snag.
The Tigers are keen to make a statement of intent upon their return to the big time, but dealing with the Ibrox decision-makers is rarely an easy task when it comes to negotiating fees for key assets.
Why Hull City’s Nicolas Raskin bid might already be a non-starter
Hull’s dramatic play-off final victory over Middlesbrough has handed them an astronomical financial windfall said to be around the £200 million mark.
This massive cash injection has given the club the financial muscle required to compete in the Premier League market, allowing them to target top-tier talents.
As such, the Tigers are looking to splash the cash significantly to improve their first-team squad after finally returning to the top flight after a painful nine-year exile.
Raskin has been identified by the Hull City recruitment team as a player with the precise quality, tactical awareness, and energy needed to boost their options in midfield.
The club feels he possesses the ideal attributes to handle the physical and technical demands of English football.
However, BBC Humberside sports editor Mike White has revealed that Hull’s opening bid of £12-14 million falls well below Rangers’ firm £20 million valuation.
As a result, the Tigers may find themselves completely priced out of a permanent deal if Rangers refuse to lower their expectations.
Speaking live on air regarding the ongoing situation, White explained the financial hurdles involved in the deal.
He stated: “Here’s one I’ll throw in. Nicolas Raskin, Rangers midfielder. Definite interest but I think the transfer fee’s going to be a bit of a stumbling block.”
White continued: “Bologna are reportedly interested in that as well. I think City have offered in the region between £12 and £14 million, he’s valued higher than that around £20m, and I think that’s going to price him out for City.”
The update from the respected journalist indicates that while Hull City possess the financial power from their promotion windfall, they are reluctant to overpay significantly for targets.
Rangers are known to be tough negotiators, and they are unlikely to budge from their established asking price, especially for a player who remains central to their long-term plans.
Who has Rangers ace Raskin previously been linked to?
Raskin being linked with a high-profile move away from Govan is not exactly a new development for the Ibrox faithful, given he has been one of Rangers’ most consistent performers in recent times.
The dynamic box-to-box midfielder has a style of play that naturally lends itself to heavy scouting from major European leagues.
His ability to break up opposition play and rapidly transition the ball forward has earned him rave reviews from pundits and scouts alike over the past couple of seasons.
The energetic midfielder previously attracted formal interest from Premier League established sides Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers in last year’s summer transfer window.
While those specific links generated plenty of headlines at the time, the interest never quite materialised into anything concrete or an official bid.
Serie A side Atalanta have also previously been said to be tracking Raskin’s development closely.
Furthermore, there appears to be genuine legs in the Bologna rumours given his historical working relationship with Tedesco.
Still, though, Rangers should not feel under any immediate pressure to take any bid that sits lower than their official valuation.
The Glasgow club hold all the cards in this scenario and can afford to wait for an offer that meets their terms.
Ultimately, Raskin still has two years left on his current contract at Ibrox, giving the club a degree of security during this window.
A definitive decision will need to be made soon so that he does not wind too much time down on his contract, which would reduce his market value in future windows.
But for now, they are in a remarkably strong negotiating position if they do decide to cash in while his value is high, and the intense transfer interest is there from across the continent.
