Nicolas Raskin appears to be on his way to Rangers but potential deals for Ahmed Kendouci and Beni Mukendi are no longer on the cards with both players sealing pre-deadline moves, via Mais Futebol and King Fut.
The Gers’ first transfer window under the stewardship of Mick Beale looks like being a rather successful one. There will be no Morgan Whittaker – failing with a number of bids for the Swansea City playmaker – but, in Todd Cantwell, the Glasgow giants have snapped up a player who has the potential to make an almighty splash in the Scottish game, having made a huge impact in the Premier League a couple of seasons ago.
Raskin, meanwhile, is one of the finest young stars in Belgium. Only one player in the Jupiler League averages more tackles per game than his 3.3 (WhoScored). And, with Raskin’s contract running down, the Glasgow Evening Times report that a deal could set Rangers back as little as £1.75 million.
But while one door opens, two more close.
Nicolas Raskin should join Todd Cantwell at Rangers
The Scottish Sun reported back in December that Rangers were preparing a ‘serious’ approach for Angola international Benedito ‘Beni’ Mukendi this winter. But, with Raskin emerging as the club’s number one target to strengthen the ‘number six’ position, Primeira Liga high-flyers Casa Pia have succeeded in snapping up Beni with minimal fuss.
Beni leaves Trofense for a Casa Pia side sitting fifth in Portugal’s top flight.
Kendouci, meanwhile, is swapping Algerian outfit ES Setif for arguably the biggest club in Egypt; Al Ahly. The skilful playmaker arrives to the tune of a bargain £900,000, having mustered eight goals and six assists from his attacking midfield role last term.
Al Ahly have fought off competition from Algerian champions CR Belouizdad.
“Kendouci is a player who interests us a lot,” CRB president Mohamed Benelhadj admitted recently. “He is currently the best player in the league. At the CRB, we want the best.”
Rangers, Football Scotland reported, were ‘confident’ of sealing a deal for Kendouci this month. They even opened talks with ES Setif in late-2022. Like Beni, however, Kendouci appeared to go by the wayside once Beale settled on his priority targets; Cantwell arriving to add extra depth and creativity in the attacking positions instead.
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