Rangers Miss Out on Lewis Ferguson as Celtic’s Recruitment Stands Out
Rangers had Lewis Ferguson where most clubs dream of having a target: willing, waiting and ready to move. They never made the call.
According to his father, former Ibrox midfielder Derek Ferguson, the Scotland international had agreed to join Rangers this summer, only for the club to stall when it came to actually putting an offer to Bologna. No bid. No negotiation. No deal.
Derek Ferguson now doubts there will be a second chance. He does not believe a January move for the 27-year-old is realistic, with Bologna holding the cards and the window of opportunity at Ibrox seemingly closed almost as soon as it opened.
Raskin left to refocus after Besiktas fall short
Nicolas Raskin’s situation tells a different story but ends in the same place: staying put.
Rangers had been bargaining on a £20m fee for the Belgian midfielder, yet Besiktas never reached that figure. The Turkish side walked away, and Raskin remains in Glasgow.
Derek McInnes, assessing the situation, is clear on what comes next for the 25-year-old. The manager believes Raskin now has one option if he wants that lucrative move later in the season: play well, dominate games, and earn the kind of January bid Rangers actually accept.
Souttar clarity coming after move collapses
John Souttar also finds himself in limbo.
The Scotland centre-half looked a candidate to leave Ibrox before the deadline, but a transfer never materialised for the 29-year-old. Rangers manager Derek McInnes has promised to set out more on Souttar’s future early next week, with the defender now caught between speculation and the reality of staying to fight for his place.
Celtic push hard for Gineitis – but Torino stand firm
Across the city, Celtic pushed aggressively for midfield reinforcement.
They were prepared to pay around £9m for Gvidas Gineitis, but Torino’s valuation sat closer to £13m. That gap proved too wide. The Italian club kept their man, and head coach Ignacio Abate is delighted to retain the 22-year-old Lithuania international rather than cash in.
For Celtic, it is a reminder that their financial muscle, while strong for Scotland, still hits limits when Serie A clubs dig in.
Emenalo loan raises eyebrows
Not every Celtic move has been warmly received.
Former striker Chris Sutton has openly questioned the decision to bring in Landon Emenalo on loan from Chelsea as cover for Kieran Tierney. Emenalo is just 18 and has yet to play a senior game for the London club, a profile that jars with Sutton when he looks at alternatives closer to home.
He points to Dundee United’s Will Ferry, Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo and PAOK’s Greg Taylor as players who might have offered more immediate certainty. Celtic, though, have gambled on potential rather than proven Premiership experience.
Strachan defends Celtic board
Gordon Strachan sees it differently.
The former Celtic manager has backed the club’s hierarchy, suggesting the Scottish champions’ recruitment “has been phenomenal” despite the noise around the board’s transfer strategy. While some supporters have grumbled about missed targets and perceived gaps in the squad, Strachan argues the overall level of business deserves praise, not criticism.
It is a firm defence at a time when every signing – and every non-signing – is being forensically picked apart.
Evans on the radar
Away from Glasgow, another Scot could soon be on the move.
Steve Evans, the 63-year-old currently in charge of Bristol Rovers, is being monitored by both Hibernian and Preston North End. Should either club decide to change managers, Evans is on the list of potential successors.
From Ferguson’s stalled dream move to Celtic’s contested recruitment and Evans’ managerial watch, the window may be shut, but the next few months will decide who turned hesitation into regret – and who turned it into opportunity.
