This is the awkward middle ground every manager dreads.
Rangers appear to be dealing with a player whose future is being discussed widely, without the clarity that comes from a bid being accepted or rejected. Reports have linked Raskin, 25, with clubs in Italy, Spain and beyond, while his recent absence from squads has only sharpened the speculation.
McInnes’ stance, as reported, has been measured rather than dramatic. There is no public push toward the exit, but neither is there a strong sense that the matter is settled.
A deadline-day story is never just about the player in question. It affects selection, dressing-room rhythm and the manager’s planning.
If Raskin stays, Rangers would retain a midfielder who has long looked capable of driving the team forward with intensity and composure. If he goes, the club may need a quick solution - and quick solutions late in a window do not always look like the best ones.
The reported interest from clubs such as Atalanta, Bologna, Villarreal and Real Betis underlines the level Raskin is thought to be attracting, even if interest and action are not the same thing.
“But if he doesn't, we wish him well,” McInnes added in the same reported remarks, a sentence that sounds practical rather than emotional.
That may be the clearest read on the situation: Rangers are braced for movement, but not yet reacting to anything concrete. The next storyline is obvious now - whether the late-window talk finally turns into an offer, or whether Raskin remains at Ibrox and quickly returns to the centre of McInnes’ plans.