Barry Ferguson has accused Rangers recruitment chiefs of botching a bargain basement deal for his own nephew - and pricing themselves out of signing him in the future.
The former Ibrox skipper, writing exclusively for Record Sport , has slammed his old club for being beaten by Bologna to the £2m capture of Lewis Ferguson from Aberdeen last summer. The youngster has gone on to earn rave reviews in Italy’s top flight and has been linked with a stunning January move to Juventus.
And his uncle Barry now believes the 23-year-old will be priced out of ever pulling on a Rangers shirt. He said: “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.”
Ferguson’s blast comes in the same week Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson came under fire from angry shareholders at the club’s AGM for his ropey record in the transfer market.
Board members at the AGM leapt to Wilson’s defence - describing his contribution as ‘outstanding’. But Ferguson continued: “That it was described as ‘outstanding’ at the AGM is actually a cause for concern. It’s not even been close to good enough - and that’s why the fans and shareholders have every right to make their voices heard.”
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