'He's certainly impressed me': Barry Ferguson names the midfielder he wants Rangers to sign
06/14/2024 07:00 AM
Barry Ferguson has spoken openly in the recent past of one frustration he has about Rangers’ transfer policy.
Speaking to the Daily Record, the legendary Ibrox skipper put forward a list of players he feels Rangers could and probably should have brought to the blue side of Glasgow.
His nephew, Lewis Ferguson, being the prime example. The former Aberdeen midfielder started his career in Rangers‘ academy after all and slipped through the net again when he left Pittodrie for Bologna.
Flash forward to the present day and, while a dream season suffered a nightmare end as he ruptured his ACL, Ferguson was the captain’s armband-wearing driving force behind Bologna’s successful Champions League charge.
Lewis Hickey also honed his talents at Bologna before returning to the UK with Brentford. Former Hibernian left-back Josh Doig, now at Sassuolo, was another Rangers had an interest in.
Rangers at front of the queue for Aberdeen’s Connor Barron
“Missing the boat on homegrown talent has a nasty habit of leaving you up a certain creek without a paddle,” Ferguson told said. “For whatever reason, it happened to Rangers with my nephew Lewis. It's been similar at different stages with Lawrence Shankland, Aaron Hickey and Josh Doig too.”
The five-time Scottish Premiership champion is understandably delighted, then, to learn that Rangers do appear to be learning from previous missed opportunities.
According to the Record, Philippe Clement’s side have made a ‘strong offer’ for Connor Barron, the Aberdeen youngster expected to make a decision on his next destination in the coming week.
One of the standout young talents in the Scottish Premiership, Barron’s potential arrival is one Barry Ferguson has been championing for a while now, describing the Dons enforcer as a ‘snip’ of a signing recently with his contract expiring this summer.
"I think he's a good young player,” Ferguson now tells Go Radio as the race for Barron’s signature heats up.
“Is he going to really strengthen the Rangers midfield? It's difficult when you play for a team like Aberdeen and you come with the pressure and the amount of stuff that is on your shoulders. The demands and expectations…
“(But) he's a good player. At the price, I would probably go and take a chance on him. When I've seen Aberdeen, he's certainly impressed me.
“But, it is a whole different ball game when you go to Rangers."
A John Lundstram replacement?
How much that ‘fee’ ends up being, however, remains to be seen. Despite Barron’s contract expiring in July, Rangers would still have to agree a fee with Aberdeen or risk the deal being taken to a tribunal.
Rangers have looked at a number of midfield options with the experienced duo Ryan Jack and John Lundstram leaving. There is an interest in Penarol’s Uruguayan enforcerDamian Garcia.
But, amid claims that he could sign a new deal with a £7.7 million release clause included, Barron offers both affordability as well as a proven track record in Scottish football.
