Barry Ferguson has stated that he is ‘frustrated’ that Michael Beale’s Rangers didn’t sign his nephew Lewis Ferguson.
The former Scotland midfielder added that Lewis Ferguson has come on ‘leaps and bounds’ during his time at Bologna, including signing a new contract this summer after an impressive debut campaign in Serie A.
But Barry Ferguson wanted the attack-minded midfielder at Rangers, as he compared him to Scotland hero and Aston Villa captain, John McGinn, as he told Go Radio.
Ferguson junior was at Aberdeen for several years and his name then started doing the rounds in the transfer rumour mill, including talk of Celtic, but Chris Sutton was having none of it.
Those impressive spells for the Dons led Ferguson to Italy, where the 24-year-old’s performances have gone up a level, including call-ups to Scotland’s thriving national side.
And whilst Ferguson senior is delighted at the improvements his nephew has made in his game, he made it clear that he wanted him at Ibrox and felt that he was deserving of such a move.
Ferguson at Rangers
“I think Lewis is good enough to go and make that step,” said Barry Ferguson. “He has come on leaps and bounds as a footballer. His overall game has improved. You can see it with the coaching.
“You know what the Italians are like. I have played with Italians and they go on about how they are coached over there. His positional sense on the pitch is a lot better now than it was at Aberdeen. If he produces, similar to Hickey, then teams are going to look at him.
“I am disappointed that Rangers didn’t show any interest. I was surprised because I thought he was really good for Aberdeen. Sometimes he never played in his favoured position. He was more of a holding midfielder then.
“I like him further forward. Let him off the leash a little. A bit like John McGinn. Getting into people’s faces and getting into the box, then when he plays that position, he is a real threat – it frustrates me, at times, when a former club (Rangers) doesn’t look at guys like Lewis.”
Pressure on Michael Beale
That defeat in the Glasgow derby has hit Rangers hard because the performance just wasn’t up to scratch and Michael Beale isn’t proving to be popular amongst the locals.
When you are getting booed for your substitutions, as well as a chorus of disapproval after the full-time whistle, then you know you are in big trouble.
Beale has been backed since he took to the Ibrox dugout and if there isn’t an instant response, then by the time the next international break comes along, he could be a goner.
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