Kenny Miller tips Rangers to sign Everton striker Ellis Simms and Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson
The two players from this season’s Scottish Premiership that Rangers should bring in are Ellis Simms and Lewis Ferguson according to Kenny Miller.
The ex-Gers striker and BBC pundit believes that Everton youngster Simms, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Hearts, could emulate the Gers’ talisman Alfredo Morelos due to his style of play, after he he scored seven goals in 21 Jambos appearances.
He also feels that Aberdeen midfielder Ferguson is the only other player in the league that would add to the squad at Ibrox, although he would have a difficult job to break through the current crop.
Miller said, via the Daily Record: “The one player in Scotland I’d look at for Rangers is Simms.
“I really like the look of him. When you see the trouble Rangers had with strikers towards the end of the season, it’s something I’d consider.
“When you look at what he could bring and the way he plays, he might be as close to a Morelos as you’re going to get.
“He’s not Alfredo Morelos, let’s make that clear. He would have a lot to prove before you put him in that bracket.
“But the physicality he’s got, the running power and the quality of goals he’s scored in that short period at Hearts – he’s someone I think could be interesting.
“At the age he’s at, playing in that Rangers team – I think he could score goals.”
He believes that it would most likely be a loan unless the “money was right” for Everton, and could depend on the Colombian star’s exit.
On Dons youngster Ferguson he added: “Even in a really poor season for Aberdeen, he was the one player who kept a decent level of consistency.
“In terms of players Rangers could go for in Scotland after [John] Souttar – Simms and Ferguson would potentially be the two for me because they’re at a really good age.”
New generation
It remains to be seen who leaves Ibrox this summer, with the inevitable attention that the Europa League run drew high.
The likes of Joe Aribo, Ryan Kent, and especially Calvin Bassey are apparently in the sights of suitors, but with Morelos’ ruled out of the end of the season through injury there has been less talk about him so far.
His wonderful form under Giovanni van Bronckhorst made a summer exit likely as he enters the last 12 months of his contract, but his thigh surgery clouds the situation.
When back-up Kemar Roofe was also ruled out with injury there was a huge gap left at the top of the Bears’ line-up, with Cedric Itten well down the picking order.
With either of the pair fully fit the final in Seville could have been a different matter, so adding a viable alternative is a priority.
Simms scored some notable goals at Hearts, including a screamer at Hampden to reach the cup final they subsequently lost to the Gers, and Robbie Neilson wants him back, so the chance to strengthen while doubly weakening a rival after the John Souttar signing would be attractive.
As Miller suggests when it comes to Ferguson he may struggle to overcome a crowded field including John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Steven Davis, so he may be a consideration for the future unless one or more of that group moves on this summer.
In other Rangers news, the club are “on alert” to sign an English Premier League player to replace another key first-team man who may exit Ibrox.