English Premier League club Watford are reportedly readying a third bid for Rangers-linked midfielder Lewis Ferguson.
The newly-promoted English side have bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking and the Hornets see Scotland as a place they can help bulk their squad out from.
According to the Scottish Sun, Watford bid somewhere in the region of £2m for the player during the week with Rangers monitoring the player’s situation at Pittodrie.
However, this was kicked into the long grass by Aberdeen before Ferguson handed in a transfer request as the allure of the Premier League turns the midfielder’s head.
The Dons would then categorically reject this request and released a statement claiming that the Watford offer for Ferguson was “insulting”.
“Aberdeen Football Club is greatly disappointed to have received a written transfer request from midfielder Lewis Ferguson today,” reads the statement.
“This request, made after the Club dismissed what can only be described as an insulting offer from an English Premier League club for one of Scotland’s most talented young midfield players, was rejected immediately.
“The Club holds Lewis in the highest regard. Having made a significant investment to both acquire and develop Lewis, he has a bright future ahead of him as an integral part of Stephen Glass’s squad.”
However, now the Sun south of the border are claiming that Watford have actually had two bids rejected and are “expected to go back with a third”.
The player has been rated by Aberdeen legend Willie Miller at £4m at the very least whilst Watford have just earned a £170m cash boost from promotion to the English top tier.
But even if Rangers have been linked in the press it is not clear if the Ibrox club has a serious interest in the player.
And whilst some may draw comparisons, there are a few reasons why the Ferguson situation isn’t the same as the collapsed Celtic pursuit of a now £50m-rated player.
