Rangers Miss Out on Lewis Ferguson as Celtic’s Recruitment Receives Praise

Rangers had Lewis Ferguson where most clubs want a big target in August – verbally onside, ready to move, deal there to be done. They never pulled the trigger.

According to his father Derek, the Scotland midfielder had agreed to join the Ibrox club this summer, only for Rangers to stop short of actually tabling an offer to Bologna. The Italian side waited. The bid never came.

At 27, Ferguson is entering his peak years in Serie A and his father does not believe the move can be revived in January. For a fanbase that has long viewed the former Aberdeen captain as a natural fit in Govan, that feels like a major opportunity allowed to drift away.

Raskin stays put – and under pressure

The money Rangers did look to generate never quite reached their valuation. Besiktas tested the water for Nicolas Raskin but failed to meet the £20m fee Rangers were bargaining on for the Belgium midfielder.

With the window closed and no move materialising, Derek McInnes has been clear about what must come next for the 25-year-old: perform. The view is simple – Raskin now has to concentrate on playing well enough over the next few months to earn the kind of big-money move that meets Rangers’ demands in January.

Uncertain futures at Ibrox

One senior Rangers defender is still waiting for clarity of his own. A transfer away from Ibrox for John Souttar failed to materialise before the deadline, leaving the 29-year-old Scotland centre-half in limbo.

Manager Derek McInnes has promised to reveal more on Souttar’s situation early next week. Whether that points to a defined role in the squad or a renewed attempt to move him on when the window reopens will be watched closely.

Celtic push, Torino hold firm

Across the city, Celtic’s recruitment drive hit a wall in Turin. The Scottish champions were prepared to pay around £9m for Gvidas Gineitis, but Torino value the 22-year-old Lithuania international closer to £13m.

That gap in valuation kept the midfielder in Serie A, with head coach Ignacio Abate delighted to retain him. For Celtic, it was a reminder that even with Champions League money, they still have to pick their battles carefully in the European market.

Emenalo loan sparks debate

One of Celtic’s completed deals has already raised eyebrows. Former striker Chris Sutton has questioned the decision to bring in Landon Emenalo on loan from Chelsea as cover for Kieran Tierney.

Emenalo, an 18-year-old left-back who has yet to play for Chelsea’s first team, arrived as a development option and short-term depth. Sutton finds it “confusing” that Celtic opted for the teenager instead of turning to proven Premiership performers such as Dundee United’s Will Ferry, Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo or PAOK’s Greg Taylor.

For a support demanding ready-made quality to back up a title defence, that debate will not disappear quickly if Emenalo takes time to settle.

Strachan backs Celtic board

While some former players have criticised Celtic’s transfer strategy, one ex-manager has gone firmly the other way. Gordon Strachan has suggested the club’s recruitment “has been phenomenal”, a strong endorsement amid scrutiny of the board’s business.

Strachan’s backing cuts against the grain of some fan frustration, but it underlines a key theme of this window in Glasgow: perception of success depends heavily on whether you judge the squad on balance sheets or on the starting XI.

Evans on the radar

Away from the Old Firm, another Scot could soon be on the move. Steve Evans, the 63-year-old in charge of Bristol Rovers, is being monitored by Hibernian and Preston North End as a possible option should either club decide to change managers.

For now, Evans remains in League One. The interest, though, is real enough to keep his name in circulation as the next round of managerial decisions looms.

As the dust settles on the window, Rangers are left to explain how a verbally agreed move for Lewis Ferguson slipped away, while Celtic lean on Gordon Strachan’s backing as proof their “phenomenal” recruitment will stand up to the test of a long, unforgiving season.