Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers are heavily linked with the Norwich City man.
Barry Ferguson has told BBC Sport that Rangers target Graham Dorrans is a “fantastic player” but warned that a Scottish spine is critical to their success.
The Daily Record reported this week that the £1.5 million-rated Norwich City midfielder will be the subject of a third bid by Rangers after the previous two were knocked back by the Championship club earlier this month.
If Glasgow-born Dorrans is the next man through the door at Rangers then he would be Pedro Caixinha’s ninth summer signing, but only the second British acquisition following the arrival of fellow midfielder Ryan Jack.
The rest of Caixinha’s business have been for Portuguese, Mexican and Colombian players, and Ferguson, who spent a total of 11 years at Ibrox across two spells, believes it is hugely important that the 46-year-old adds Scottish players to the mix.
“I still believe that you’ve got to get a spine at least of Scottish players. I know he’s after Graham Dorrans, who I think is a fantastic player – and obviously, I saw yesterday, Kenny McLean as well,” he told BBC Sport.
“You can’t lose your identity. You’ve got to have Scottish players. Many a player’s come in who had 30 or 40-odd caps, who had played in big leagues over in the continent and they couldn’t believe the pressure that they were under. When you play at Rangers, you’re expected to win every single game.
“I believe that you’ve got to give him two or three months and you’ve got to give these players two or three months to settle in but again you don’t get much time when you play at a club like Rangers.”
Rangers, according to The Scotsman, have also had bids for Scottish winger Jamie Walker rejected by Hearts.
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