Why Rangers didn't sign Lewis Ferguson last summer and what needs to happen for future Ibrox transfer

Rangers failed to get a move for Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson over the line this summer.

Despite heavy links that Rangers would sign the Scotland international, they could not progress with talks.

It was reported that the Serie A outfit were looking for a fee in the region of £15-20million to agree to a sale.

That proved beyond the reach of the Gers, who brought in 14 players in a summer rebuild following the appointment of Derek McInnes as manager.

However, Rangers continue to be linked with a move for Ferguson - whose contract runs until June 2028 - in the future.

Journalist Mark Guidi, the chief football writer for the Sunday Mail, has now shared what he knew during the summer, and the conditions it would take to make a move happen in the near future.

Why could Rangers not get a deal for Lewis Ferguson over the line?

It was an extremely hectic summer for Rangers, who completely reshaped their squad for McInnes.

But in truth, at least one if not two big summer sales were expected at Ibrox during the last transfer window.

Youssef Chermiti was linked the exit door despite Rangers wanting to keep him.

However, a serious knee injury sustained against Hibernian in August scuppered any chance of a big sale anyway.

Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin was also expected to leave, but he too ended up staying put at Ibrox.

Guidi spoke on the Go Radio Football Show about what his understanding was in the summer, and thinks selling at least one of Raskin or Chermiti may be crucial in any future transfer for Ferguson.

He said: "I highlighted when I was out in New York at the World Cup to keep an eye on it, there's a chance it's going to happen.

"Because I knew there were talks going on behind the scenes about the possibility of bringing Lewis Ferguson to Rangers.

"It was going to take a whopping fee, minimum £15million, might have been as much as £20million.

"Now perhaps if Rangers had sold Chermiti and Raskin, there was a chance it could have happened because certainly you've got a willing player.

"You're not chasing a lost cause, you're chasing something where that party wants to make it happen. We all know now if a player wants something to happen, there's a good chance of making it happen."

Asked about signing Ferguson in the future, Guidi said: "You'd need to sell Raskin and probably looking at Chermiti. I think there was a willingness there, but it had to be funded by their own sales, they had to go and do it."

Will Lewis Ferguson to Rangers happen?

The noise around Ferguson possibly moving to Ibrox has grown a lot in the past few days.

That is mainly because he has been in Glasgow with the national team, and he was asked about the possibility of moving to Rangers.

Ferguson spoke of his "dream" of playing at Ibrox and essentially took a "never say never" attitude.

It feels like Ferguson, whose father Derek and uncle Barry both played for Rangers, will inevitably make the move to Govan eventually.

He was released by the club as a teenager, and it would be a great story if he were to find his way back to Rangers.

Whether that's in January, in the summer, or further down the line, who knows?

But surely one day this is a transfer that will definitely happen.