Nicolas Raskin has urged Ibrox main man Ryan Kent to stay and lead Rangers’ resurgence next year.
Boss Michael Beale has made clear he’s desperate to keep hold of his out-of-contract playmaker and hopes talks this month can force a breakthrough in stalled negotiation talks. Now Gers new boy Raskin has added his name to the clamour of Light Blue voices pleading with Kent to sign fresh terms.
The Belgian has only been in Glasgow for six weeks but has seen enough from the £7million Liverpool recruit to identify him as the most influential star in Beale’s squad. He said: “Of course I want Ryan to stay here so I can play with him for a long time. I think he is very important for the team. If we want to achieve something we need to keep all of our best players — and he’s the best player. We need him here.”
There’s a number of familiar faces in the Gers squad who Raskin has faced before from his time in Belgium. The former Standard Liege ace has previously crossed paths with Fashion Sakala, Ianis Hagi, Kemar Roofe and Rabbi Matondo.
He also came up against the bulk of his new team-mates during a 2020 Europa League clash. But he confessed Kent has long been the face he associates with this Ibrox team.
And his admiration for the 26-year-old has only grown since he’s had the chance to see how he works up close.
“He’s a top player and he is inspiring as well,” said the Belgian Under-21 cap. “When I came to Rangers I saw him working hard every day in the gym, working to be fit.
“He’s a very good professional and that’s why he is so good, I want to learn from him. Honestly, he is the only guy I knew when I was a young kid, he was famous in Europe as well.
“I’m enjoying playing with him a lot, he’s so good, when he’s got the ball at his feet, it’s almost unbelievable and impossible to take the ball off him. It’s hard to play against him in training but it’s very good to play with him.
“I watched Rangers last season on their European run. Everyone watched the team last season, he was the famous image of Rangers in Europe.
“I remember the goal he scored against Celtic. When he came inside and shot, honestly I don’t know why, but he was the only guy I knew.
“I knew about the Borussia Dortmund game last year but whenever I talked about Rangers I talked about this Ryan Kent. Maybe it’s because he always surprised me that he played with short shirt sleeves and gloves! I’ve spoken to Ryan and I’ve also spoken to him about his shot.”
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