Rangers' Ferguson Deal Falls Through as Celtic's Recruitment Gets Praise
Lewis Ferguson, according to his father Derek, was ready to walk into Ibrox this summer. Agreement on the player’s side, a clear desire to come home, a 27-year-old Scotland international in his prime. And then – nothing.
Derek Ferguson says Rangers never followed through with a bid to Bologna, leaving the move to collapse before it ever truly began. He also doubts there will be any second chance in January, with the door to a deal for the midfielder now looking firmly shut.
While Rangers supporters are left to wonder what might have been, the transfer noise around Ibrox has not stopped.
Raskin’s price, Souttar’s future
Besiktas tested the water for Nicolas Raskin but walked away when they hit Rangers’ valuation. The Turkish club failed to reach the £20m figure the Ibrox hierarchy were working to for the 25-year-old Belgian, and the move stalled.
Now, as manager Derek McInnes sees it, the onus is back on Raskin. The midfielder has been told he must focus on delivering on the pitch if he wants that big-money switch to materialise when the window reopens in January.
Another Rangers question mark is John Souttar. A move away for the 29-year-old Scotland centre-half never materialised before the deadline. McInnes has promised to shed more light on Souttar’s situation early next week, with the defender’s future still hanging in the balance.
Celtic push, Torino stand firm
Across the city, Celtic pushed hard for Gvidas Gineitis. The Scottish champions were willing to go to around £9m for the 22-year-old Torino midfielder, a Lithuania international who has been on several clubs’ radars.
Torino would not budge. The Serie A side value Gineitis closer to £13m, and head coach Ignacio Abate is delighted to have kept hold of him. For now, Celtic’s interest has been checked by a firm Italian stance.
That has not stopped debate over Celtic’s wider recruitment.
Former striker Chris Sutton has openly questioned the logic behind the loan signing of Landon Emenalo. The 18-year-old left-back, yet to play a senior game for Chelsea, has arrived as cover for Kieran Tierney. Sutton finds it baffling that Celtic turned to an untested teenager instead of ready-made options such as Dundee United’s Will Ferry, Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo or PAOK’s Greg Taylor.
Yet Gordon Strachan, who once sat in the Celtic dugout himself, sees it very differently. The former manager has described the club’s recent recruitment as “phenomenal”, pushing back against criticism of the board’s transfer work and insisting the champions have largely got it right.
Evans on the radar
Away from Glasgow, Steve Evans has emerged as a name to watch. The 63-year-old Scot, currently in charge of Bristol Rovers, is being monitored by both Hibernian and Preston North End as a potential option should either club decide to make a managerial change.
From the Ferguson deal that never was, to Raskin’s price tag, to Celtic’s split-screen of criticism and praise, the Scottish game’s transfer storylines are already queuing up for January.
