The Aberdeen right-back has stood out in Scotland and the new Nottingham Forest boss may have realised his mistake.
If Mark Warburton thought he had a difficult task rejuvenating Rangers and dragging the fallen giants back to where they belong, just think of the challenge that lies ahead at Nottingham Forest.
Just two points above the drop zone, burdened with financial concerns and lorded over by a heavy-handed chairman who seems utterly incapable of realising his own mistakes, Forest may be a Premier League club in stature but the fans would surely settle for the safety of mid-table right about now.
Therefore, one of Warburton’s first priorities will surely be to enhance the quality at his disposal. Though replacing Patijm Kasami, Vladimir Stojkovic, Nicolao Dumitru and co with proven Championship talent is easier said than done.
Especially after Sky Sports stated that the club still owes Al-Hasawi £55 million with an official statement claiming that player sales could be used to ‘mitigate any potential funding shortfall’.
Therefore, perhaps Warburton would be well suited targeting a player he knows well, a player who could be signed on the cheap with his contract due to expire next summer. But that does not mean Aberdeen right-back Shay Logan would be just another Fawaz freebie.
Since arriving in Scotland, the 29-year-old has evolved into one of the league’s best full-backs both in an attacking and defensive sense. He’d also offer some much-needed competition for Erik Lichaj on the right hand side of defence, especially with Benfica loanee Hildeberto Pereira unlikely to remain at the City Ground beyond this season.
And Warburton will have witnessed Logan’s progression first-hand, starring for the club that ousted Rangers from second place.
Any potential move would come under question, however. Logan was released by Warburton at Brentford after all. Though, as reported by the Daily Record, the defender holds no grudge.
“I don’t have a bad word against him. I was at Brentford for nearly three years and he was always nice to me,” Logan said. “He was honest with me and that’s all I ask.”
Five years on, could Warburton go full circle and target the man he let go?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
