Rangers Urged To Wait Until 2028 For £20m Transfer Target: Is Alex Rae Right About His Plan?

Rangers Urged To Wait Until 2028 For £20m Transfer Target: Is Alex Rae Right About His Plan? Rangers could have to exercise patience if they want to bring Lewis Ferguson back to Scotland, with former midfielder Alex Rae identifying 2028 as a possible opportunity to complete the long-awaited move. Rangers have a potential opening with Lewis Ferguson According to GlasgowWorld , Rae believes the Ibrox side should avoid paying Bologna’s current £15 million to £20 million valuation and instead monitor the midfielder’s contractual situation. Ferguson’s existing agreement runs until 2028, potentially allowing Rangers to negotiate a free transfer. Speaking on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show, Rae suggested that the summer of 2027 could become particularly interesting, as Ferguson would potentially enter the final 12 months of his Bologna contract. He explained that clubs frequently struggle to retain valuable players when they approach the final stages of their agreements. Consequently, Rangers could redirect the money saved on a transfer fee into Ferguson’s wages and signing-on package. There are obvious reasons why this particular opportunity attracts attention at Ibrox. Ferguson grew up supporting Rangers, while his father Derek and uncle Barry both represented the Glasgow club. Rae said: “For me the only way that this materialises is, I think is 2028 possibly when he is out of contract, which is not long time in football terms. You come to next summer, which is what – summer of 2027; I think he might only have a year left. I know that they will be trying to look after their asset. “But we have seen it time after time where people run down their contract. For me, that would be the perfect time because he would be 28, 29 in about 18 months. And I think if they could get him, then you could throw more money at the player if you wanted him that badly and you don’t have to pay the big fee. That is the only way I can see this materialising.” However, his connection with the club doesn’t guarantee a transfer. Since joining Bologna in 2022, the Scottish international has established himself as an important figure, earned the captaincy and helped the Italian side qualify for the Champions League. His achievements include winning the 2025 Coppa Italia, becoming the first Scottish player since Graeme Souness to lift the competition. Ferguson previously admitted that a summer switch to Rangers never came particularly close. After considering his options during the holiday break, he decided to continue his career in Italy. “I had a long think after the World Cup and a bit of time on holiday where I thought about my future. I was a little bit unsure, but nothing was ever really that close (with Rangers), to be honest. “When I went back to pre-season with Bologna, we had a new manager, and it was like a fresh start again, although we have since changed (the manager) again. I had a long think about my future and what that was going to look like, and in the end it was still at Bologna. I’ve loved every moment that I have had there, so it was just about continuing that journey and seeing where it takes me. I think one day (he will play for Rangers).” Should Rangers wait until 2028 or pursue another midfielder? GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Sebastien Pocognoli, Head Coach of Scotland, shakes hands with Lewis Ferguson of Scotland following the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Scotland and Switzerland at Hampden Park on September 29, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Rae’s suggestion makes financial sense, but Derek McInnes cannot afford to make his midfield recruitment dependent on a potential signing two years away. Rangers need players who can improve their performances immediately, particularly if McInnes wants to build a competitive squad capable of challenging for major honours. Waiting for Ferguson could leave important gaps elsewhere. There is another complication. Bologna could offer the midfielder an improved contract, while other clubs might present attractive opportunities before Rangers get another chance. My view is that Rangers should maintain contact with Ferguson but avoid making him central to their recruitment plans. McInnes must continue identifying younger midfielders who can strengthen his starting XI without demanding an enormous financial commitment. If Ferguson approaches 2028 without extending his Bologna agreement, Rangers could then pursue a pre-contract arrangement and offer him an attractive financial package. For a boyhood supporter who has openly discussed representing Rangers one day, that possibility deserves serious attention. However, McInnes needs results now, and a transfer that might happen in 2028 cannot solve problems at Ibrox in October or January 2027.