Rangers know that they will have to pay £17m to secure the services of Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson.
Ferguson’s transfer has been discussed by Rangers, and the hierarchy are aware of the finances involved in bringing him back to Ibrox.
With Scotland getting knocked out of the World Cup, the 26-year-old is expected to make a decision about his club career in the coming weeks.
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This is assuming Nicolas Raskin leaves Rangers…
Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah unsure if Lewis Ferguson will move to Ibrox at £17m fee
Kris Boyd questioned if the Dan Neil signing would signal the end of Rangers’ pursuit of Ferguson.
It will take £17m to sign the Scotland international, which would make him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.
Currently, Tore Andre Flo holds that record, with the Light Blues paying Chelsea £12m for him back in 2000.
Sun journalist Roger Hannah does not see the Ferguson deal happening as the Gers spent £8m for Youssef Chermiti last summer, which was the most they paid for a player since shattering their transfer record.
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Boyd said: “Does the Dan Neil transfer signal the end – and I know we are speaking about Scotland and being able to afford certain managers – the Lewis Ferguson transfer saga regarding the fee that Rangers were potentially asked to pay. Does the Dan Neil signing signal the end of that?”
To which Hannah responded: “I just think the transfer fee signals the end of that Boydy. When Rangers paid £8million up front for Chermiti and it could go to £10m – it was the biggest fee they’d paid in 25 years.
“And you are asking them to pay more than double that this summer to get Lewis Ferguson. I know they might bring money in for Nico Raskin and other players as well, but an outlay of £17m, and then you would need to pay him to a £17m player. I just thought the deal was too rich for any Scottish team. Celtic, Rangers anyone. I might be wrong.”
The Sky Sports pundit then stated: “It was £17m before the tournament started. It was the going rate that Bologna were looking for, but after his World Cup performances, you wouldn’t be surprised if that has jumped up.
“There wasn’t many Scotland players came out with plaudits or credit. But he was one of them.“
Why paying £17m is not a deal-breaker for Rangers
Both Boyd and Hannah are making valid points above, about the Gers’ ability to shell out that kind of money on one player.
Yes, £17m is a huge outlay for Ferguson, but if it is balanced against the sale of Raskin, it really is not that big a deal.
The club would have budgeted for the summer, not knowing how much the Belgian would cost or if he would even be sold.
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They did not know that he would go on to shine at the World Cup, keep a legend like Kevin de Bruyne on the bench, and make headlines on the greatest stage of them all.
If Rangers can get around £25m for him and buy Ferguson for £17m, they are still left with £8m extra money they would not have expected in the first place.
That gives them the opportunity not only to replace Raskin efficiently, but to strengthen another area for big money for a player like Vaclav Cerny.
Most Gers fans, if told that they would be getting in Cerny and Ferguson for Raskin, would view it as good business and urge Andrew Cavenagh to sanction the deal.
