Glasgow Rangers’ foray deep into the Europa League this season is vital not only in restoring pride after a dismal domestic season but also in boosting the club’s finances ahead of next term.

Of course, the prize money in Europe’s second-tier club competition is nowhere near as lavish compared to the Champions League, and this is something that the Ibrox side must strive for next term.

Indeed, reaching the quarter-finals in the Europa League has seen the Gers win £2.1m, which is added to the £3.6m they claimed after reaching the group stages.

In comparison, those in the Champions League have netted £10.8m for reaching the same stage, with a win in the group stages being valued at £1.8m, proving how much of a gulf there is between the two competitions.

Having not qualified for the Champions League proper since the 2023/23 season – finishing bottom of the group without a win – it is clear that the Light Blues need to reach this stage again to bolster their coffers.

If not, at least selling a player or two for a sizeable fee will help make up the shortfall hopefully. Since 2022, only three players have departed the Gers for a solid profit; Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo, and Calvin Bassey.

The latter became the club’s record sale when he moved to Ajax from Glasgow, but just how much did they receive for the defender?

How much Rangers sold Calvin Bassey for

After making just 15 appearances during his maiden season at the club, nobody at Ibrox thought that a year later he would be joining one of Europe’s most iconic clubs for a record fee.

Originally looked at as a potential long-term heir to Borna Barisic at left-back, Bassey was called upon to slot into the heart of the defence alongside Connor Goldson due to an injury crisis.

This turned out to be one of the best things to happen to the Nigerian international defender. He went on to play a total of 50 games for the Gers that term, winning the Scottish Cup and helping them reach the Europa League final during the 2021/22 season.

He won 64% of his ground duels per game throughout the heroic run to Seville that season, while also being dribbled past on just 0.2 occasions each game for the Light Blues.

His form attracted the interest of Ajax, who wanted to bring Bassey to the Netherlands ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Eventually, they got their man, signing him for a fee of just under £23m, including an initial fee of £19.6m, which is still a club-record sale for the Glasgow side.

Player

Transfer fee

Calvin Bassey

£19.6m

Nathan Patterson

£11.5m

Alan Hutton

£9m

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst

£8.5m

Jean-Alain Boumsong

£8m

This allowed Giovanni Van Bronckhorst to strengthen his squad by using the funds, although the club failed to win a trophy that term.

Bassey has since gone from strength to strength since departing Ibrox, however.

Calvin Bassey is now starring in the Premier League

While his spell at Ajax didn’t quite go to plan, Bassey moved to Fulham in the Premier League back in 2023 and has impressed during his two seasons with the Cottagers.

He has already featured 31 times under Marco Silva this term, scoring twice in the process, and has been a key member of the squad that looks set to seal a top-half finish in the Premier League.

Still only 25, if he continues to perform like he has done this season, a move to a better club could crop back up sooner rather than later, as he has been a regular for the Cottagers in their push into the top half of the table.

His sale was the biggest in Rangers history. Could the emergence of one player this season see the Gers replicate this masterclass? Nicolas Raskin could command a massive fee if he moves on from Ibrox in the upcoming summer transfer window.

What is Nico Raskin’s transfer value

TEAMtalk reported last month that English sides Aston Villa and Leeds United are showing some interest in the Belgian midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window.

He has been a mainstay in the starting XI since coming back into the squad just weeks into the new season after injury had hampered his pre-season. Since then, he has scored against Celtic, captained the Gers and even made his full international debut for Belgium.

Hardly a bad few months and TEAMtalk suggest that Rangers will be seeking a fee of around £20m should they even consider selling him this summer.

If they do, it will be a massive profit on the £1.3m transfer fee they shelled out in January 2023, that’s for sure, and would follow in Bassey’s footsteps as another gem signed on the cheap before being sold for roughly £20m.

The question is, will he want to leave so soon? Or is another season at Ibrox perhaps the best for his development as a player?

Why Nico Raskin is worth £20m

This valuation is best attested by his performances in the Europa League for Rangers this term. Not only does the Belgian average 3.5 tackles per game, but he also recovers 7.5 balls, wins 6.4 total duels, and averages 1.1 key passes each match in Europe.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Raskin even ranks in the top 1% for tackles (4.02), the top 11% for interceptions (1.55), and in the top 13% for aerials won (1.75) per 90 across the previous 365 days.

These statistics clearly prove why there are a few English clubs showing interest in him and it won’t be long before he moves on from Rangers.

Kris Boyd dubbed the former Standard Liege starlet as “unbelievable” following the 1-1 draw between Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur back in December, and he has improved massively since then.

He, alongside the likes of Hamza Igamane, Mohamed Diomande, and Jefte, could all be players who eventually rake in significant profits for the Light Blues in the next few years.

Celtic have shown how effective a player trading model can be, selling Jota, Matt O’Riley and Kieran Tierney for massive fees in the previous few years.

Raskin might just be the catalyst for the Ibrox side, especially if he does leave during the summer transfer window. if so, then expect a fee close to, if not higher, than the one Bassey was sold for.

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