With every milestone he reaches, an extremely talented and extremely coveted footballer adds another million to his price tag while Rangers see the cost of a potential summer move go up and up.
Despite doing much of their business overseas since hiring former PSV Eindhoven scout Nils Koppen, Rangers’ technical director insists that Ibrox will always be home to the best domestic talent around.
Rangers came in for much criticism after Lewis Ferguson slipped through their grasp, to name but one. You could add Josh Doig and Aaron Hickey to that, too, while many felt that Lawrence Shankland was destined for Ibrox at one point.
After snatching Connor Barron from Aberdeen and repeating the trick with Lyall Cameron in January – Koppen describes the Dundee ace as a ‘hugely important’ addition – the Europa League quarter-finalists are at least making progress as they look to right the perceived wrongs of previous transfer windows.
But if Barron and Cameron were among the brightest talent in Scottish football, the prince continues to sit on his Fir Park throne. Barron and Cameron are good players. Lennon Miller, however, is a potentially great one.
Lennon Miller worth ‘over £5m’ as Rangers eye Motherwell ace
The youngest captain in Motherwell’s history, a nailed on starter at the age of 17, and now a Scotland international to-be.
Miller was only one year old when James McFadden scored that stunning Scotland winner against France in 2006. And he feels that anyone looking to sign the teen sensation this summer – Rangers’ hopes boosted by a San Francisco 49ers takeover – would have to part with a fee which makes him potentially the most expensive teenager in Premiership history.
“I think it would have to be starting at an initial £4 million, with add-ons,” McFadden believes. “It might change. [£4 million] might have been what they were accepting in January.
“Now, you’re looking at potentially a full international at 18. You look at the examples we’ve said, none better than Lewis going to Bologna.
“[Ferguson] is going to move for a lot of money. Look at the development as a player.”
Motherwell reportedly rejected a £2.5 million bid from Udinese in January, the Serie A outfit hoping to see Miller follow in the Italian footsteps of Ferguson, Doig and Hickey.
Gordon Dalziel, the former Rangers forward, feels that Miller is now worth at least double after earning his first ever call up to Steve Clarke’s senior Scotland side.
“[Motherwell must demand] over £5 million,” Dalziel says. “See if Lennon Miller, 18 year old, if he was at Celtic or Rangers, they would laugh at £4 million. Because he’s at Motherwell…
“Lennon Miller can play at [the highest] level. Lennon Miller in the future will be worth a lot more than £4 million.
“The problem is, he’s only got a year left on his contract.”
Derek Ferguson suggests Miller should follow in Lewis’ Serie A footsteps
As Dalziel points out, the midfielder’s current deal expires in 2026. Though that should not stop him becoming the Premiership’s most expensive teenager, as well as comfortably Motherwell’s most expensive export.
Lennon Miller is a ‘carbon copy’ of Celtic captain Callum McGregor, according to pundit Si Ferry. And, therefore, an ideal long-term replacement.
Derek Ferguson, a one-time Rangers stalwart and older brother of interim boss Barry, cannot see Miller taking the David Turnbull route from Fir Park to Celtic Park this summer, however.
He feels that, regardless of interest from both the Old Firm clubs, Miller might follow in the footsteps of another member of the Ferguson family; Bologna skipper Lewis.
“McGregor cannot go on forever. But is McGregor ready to down tools? No, far from it,” Derek Ferguson argues. “So I think the best place for Lennon Miller may be abroad.”
