Rangers told dream signing will remain a key player at his current club

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Rangers have been told dream signing Lewis Ferguson will remain a key player for Bologna under new head coach Raffaele Palladino.

The Scottish giants were linked with Ferguson in the summer transfer window but he ended up staying with Bologna, who he joined in July 2022.

Ferguson has since revealed he had a “long think” about his future as he aspires to play for boyhood club Rangers in the future.

However, Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport understands the 27-year-old midfielder is central to the plans of Bologna boss Palladino.

Palladino replaced Domenico Tedesco as manager in September and earned a 1-1 Serie A draw with Torino in his first game in charge.

Ferguson impressed in that game and Gazzetta writer Matteo Dalla Vite expects him to kick on after representing Scotland in the international break.

He writes: “The future remains to be seen, while the present smacks of a ‘pivotal’ player whom Palladino awaits with open arms, who in the first five matchdays is the midfielder with the most accurate passes in Serie A (401). So, for Lewis Ferguson, the (international) break wasn’t a siesta but a tonic. Bologna needs him. In every sense and in every aspect of the field.”

Ferguson helped Scotland pick up four points from their Nations League clashes against North Macedonia, Switzerland and Slovenia under new boss Sebastien Pocognoli.

Rangers hoping Neil and Raskin can kick on this season

Rangers meanwhile are hoping to pick up from where they left off before the international break when they return to action on Saturday.

Derek McInnes’ side are looking to make it seven wins in a row when they entertain Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox Stadium.

While Rangers were unable to sign Ferguson in the summer, they did acquire Dan Neil, who scored twice in the League Cup win over Celtic last month.

Neil and Nicolas Raskin struck up a promising midfield partnership before the international break, helping Rangers keep five clean sheets in six games.

In addition to Neil, Rangers also signed midfielders Vanja Dragojevic and Cameron Devlin in the summer transfer window.

Australian Devlin, 28, has made nine appearances for Gers so far this season, while Serbian Dragojevic, 20, has featured seven times.

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