Rangers Transfer Updates: Ferguson, Raskin, and Souttar
Lewis Ferguson, according to his father Derek, was ready to walk through the doors at Ibrox this summer. Agreement on the player’s side, the path seemingly clear. Yet Rangers never followed through with a formal offer to Bologna – and the move, Derek Ferguson believes, is now dead.
The 27-year-old midfielder, a standout in Serie A with Bologna and a regular for Scotland, had lined up a return to Glasgow in what would have been one of the most eye-catching deals of the window. Instead, the Italian club never received a bid, and Derek Ferguson has poured cold water on any notion of a January revival.
While that saga fizzled out, another Rangers storyline stalled for very different reasons.
Raskin stays put after Besiktas fall short
Nicolas Raskin was the subject of strong interest from Besiktas, but the Turkish club did not come close to the £20m valuation Rangers were working to. Without a fee to match their expectations, the 25-year-old Belgium midfielder remains at Ibrox.
Manager Derek McInnes has made it clear what comes next for Raskin: perform. If the midfielder still wants a major move, McInnes believes he must now channel his energy into producing the kind of form that will command big money when the window reopens in January.
The theme of uncertainty does not end there for Rangers.
Souttar future to be clarified
John Souttar’s position remains unresolved after a transfer away from Ibrox failed to materialise. The 29-year-old Scotland centre-half appeared a candidate for a move, but the deadline came and went without a deal.
McInnes has promised to address Souttar’s situation early next week, pledging more clarity on where the defender fits into his plans after a window that raised more questions than answers around the Rangers squad.
Across the city, the narrative is very different.
Celtic miss out on Gineitis but win praise
Celtic pushed hard for Gvidas Gineitis, tabling a willingness to go to around £9m for the Torino midfielder. The Italians, though, valued the 22-year-old closer to £13m, and head coach Ignacio Abate has made no secret of his delight at keeping the Lithuania international.
Despite that setback, former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has delivered a strong defence of the Scottish champions’ recruitment. While sections of the support have criticised the board’s transfer work, Strachan has described the club’s recent business as “phenomenal”, a robust endorsement at the end of a testing window.
Not everyone in the Celtic camp, past or present, is quite so convinced.
Sutton questions Emenalo loan
Chris Sutton has raised eyebrows over Celtic’s decision to bring in Landon Emenalo on loan from Chelsea. The 18-year-old left-back has yet to make a senior appearance for the London club but arrives as cover for Kieran Tierney.
Sutton has questioned why Celtic turned to an untested teenager rather than proven Premiership options such as Dundee United’s Will Ferry, Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo, or PAOK’s Greg Taylor. For him, the choice of Emenalo over familiar, battle-hardened full-backs is a puzzling call in a season where fine margins will matter.
Evans on radar as managerial dominoes loom
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 candidate should either club decide to change managers.
With Rangers dealing with missed opportunities, Celtic juggling praise and scrutiny over their recruitment, and clubs circling a veteran Scot in England, the next few months already feel loaded. January is not far away – and the window that just closed may only be the opening act.
