Barry Ferguson has delivered a 'shocked but not surprised' response over Rangers not moving for nephew Lewis while at Aberdeen.
The former Ibrox skipper reckons a £2million fee for the midfielder wasn't even a gamble with the Scotland international starting to make waves with Bologna in Serie A. His recent form has even captured the eye of Juventus with reports over interest in a January deal.
Ferguson believes his old club missed a trick with the former Reds star and one or two other youngsters. Both Aaron Hickey and Josh Doig left Hearts and Hibs for an Italian adventure with Hickey earning a big money English Premier League switch to Brentford. Scottish based talent is important for the club's identity according to the Rangers hero - who believes not signing the midfiedler shows things are far from right on the recruitment side.
He told the Daily Record : “For £2m it wasn’t even a gamble. On one hand, I was shocked that Rangers didn’t show any interest whatsoever in him. But, on the other, I wasn’t even remotely surprised. If that makes any sense.
"Rangers have always looked on their doorstep for the best young talent. From the likes of Ryan Jack way back to the days of Neil McCann - bringing in the best emerging Scottish talent is important for the club’s identity. Lewis fitted that bill perfectly, but Rangers missed a trick with him as well as one or two others.
“He would have been ideal for them. I’m not saying he would have been a certain starter, but just being around guys like Jack, Steve Davis and Scott Arfield would have brought him on leaps and bounds.
“But Bologna saw something in him that Rangers didn’t and now, if he continues the form he was showing before the World Cup, my old club couldn’t even think about affording him. It’s a shame but it’s also a sign that things are far from right on the recruitment side of things.”
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