Rangers have been dealt a blow in their hopes of picking up Lewis Ferguson on a reduced transfer fee from Aberdeen after their manager, Derek McInnes, issued a thinly veiled “hands off” statement reported in The Daily Mail yesterday.
McInnes’s comments were picked up by Glasgow Live and after recent speculation linking Barry Ferguson’s nephew with a move to Ibrox, he was quick to quash any rumours that Pittodrie could be an easy place to pick up a bargain.
“In Scott (McKenna), Lewis (Ferguson) and Sam (Cosgrove) we have three very good players in terms of the value they add to the club.
“But the chairman has been pretty adamant and consistent in saying there will be no fire sale here.
“No-one will leave for a fee below their market value.
“I’m delighted with the progress of the three players people are talking about.
“McKenna has come through the academy system, Cosgrove and Ferguson between them cost £250,000.
“The three boys have a huge value to the club but they are also very important players on the pitch for us in each department of the team.
“We always want to hang on to our best players as long as possible, but we recognise at Aberdeen there comes a point where they move on.”
McInnes may be adamant that there will be no sales “below market value”, however, with the financial effect that the coronavirus pandemic is having on world football, the market has taken a hit.
Rangers fans know this only too well with Ross Wilson able to negotiate as much as £1million off the originally agreed price for Ianis Hagi to complete his permanent signing from Genk to reflect the unprecedented circumstances facing teams around the globe.
Aberdeen are no different and for all that they may be looking for a significant fee for Ferguson, the Gers will remind them how much they paid for an established Romanian international who is just a year older, Transfermarkt’s valuation of £1.35m would be a fair reflection with the SFWA Young Player of the Year yet to prove he is capable of playing in a team that keep the ball on the ground.
Given his connections to Rangers through both Barry and his father Derek, Lewis is always going to be one that fans automatically gravitate towards, especially when both have encouraged Steven Gerrard to sign the youngster in the past.
Ferguson won’t be the only midfielder linked with a move to Ibrox this summer and with Renato Tapia of Feyenoord also in the frame, few would recommend paying over the odds for a relatively untested 20-year old when there is a 53-times capped, 24-year old available for free who also has Champions League experience to his name, regardless of how much it might annoy his club’s fans.