Rangers leave key star at home after transfer approach as stunning £18m double signing nears

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has revealed that midfielder Nicolas Raskin is close to leaving the club.

The Belgium international has not travelled with the Rangers squad to the Czech Republic for the Conference League play-off second leg against Jablonec due to a transfer approach from an unnamed club.

Rangers are protecting a 1-0 lead from the first leg at Ibrox last week as they look to secure a place in the league phase of UEFA's third tier competition after dropping out of Europa League qualifying.

They will have to make do without Raskin, who has been the attracting transfer interest following impressive displays for Belgium at the World Cup this summer with a move away now close to materialising.

Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin has been the subject of a transfer approach. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

McInnes said: "We believe that interest has stepped up over the last couple of days. Something may or may not happen.

“If Nico stays beyond the window then it would be great to work with him, if he doesn’t then we wish him well. I think everything moves on, Nico has served the club well.

“There is maybe an opportunity for him and the club to capitalise on that with a transfer fee. I don’t want to say too much about Nico at the minute until if and when something happens. It is still an if rather than a certainty.”

Rangers are closing on two big-money incomings with deals for Girona winger Kim Min-su (£8.5m) and Portland Timbers striker Kevin Kelsy (£9.5m) said to have been agreed for a combined £18million.

“I think we are close to certainly doing one,” McInnes added. “Min-su is obviously one that we are really active on.

"We are not at a position where we can announce anything at the minute but it wouldn’t be a million miles away to suggest that hopefully that one happens for us.

"We are still working on one or two other things. The sooner we get them in, the better. The club are working hard to try and deliver the players we require for the season ahead. We are still working hard to try and make a couple of signings.

“If we can get things resolved over the next 24-48 hours with any signing, then they might have a chance for the game on Sunday, but I need to leave that to the people at the club who are trying hard to get deals done, which we’ve seen isn’t always easy. Our focus is just on this game tomorrow night.”