- Inter Milan have identified Lewis Ferguson as a realistic midfield target from Bologna this summer.
- Andrew Cavenagh has promised a major Rangers squad rebuild focused on leadership, steel and chemistry.
- Ferguson wants to play for Rangers one day, but remains financially out of reach for now.
The growing interest in Lewis Ferguson from Inter Milan offers a sharp reminder of the level Rangers are still trying to climb back towards under the new regime led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises.
While Ferguson’s long-term ambition to play for Rangers remains genuine, the immediate reality is that the 26-year-old is being discussed internally at one of Europe’s elite clubs as part of a major midfield rebuild at San Siro.
Lewis Ferguson tipped for Inter interest
Italian outlet Calcio Inter this week identified the Bologna captain as one of three realistic midfield targets being considered by Cristian Chivu’s side this summer.
Inter’s recruitment focus centres heavily on midfielders capable of contributing goals, technical quality and tactical intelligence rather than simply defensive structure.
Ferguson’s profile aligns neatly with that model after producing 13 goals across his first two seasons in Serie A before recovering from the serious ligament injury which briefly interrupted his momentum.
The report claims Bologna would consider offers in the region of €15 million for the Scotland international, whose contract runs until 2028.
Rangers set for big-spending summer reshape
That valuation alone illustrates the challenge facing Rangers, even amid expectations of significant summer spending following a disastrous first season under the new ownership structure.
Rangers finished third in the Premiership and collapsed badly after the split, losing four of their final five fixtures while Celtic secured the Premiership title on the final day against Hearts.
However, Cavenagh has already made it clear that major changes are coming.
“But we don’t yet have a good team. And that is our focus this summer – building a winning team,” he said recently.
“Our focus will be less about raw talent and more about things like chemistry and leadership, steel, and footballing IQ.
“We are excited to make those adjustments to the squad.
“When we think about the club itself, we have talked about Rangers DNA, we have talked about people who will get their fingernails dirty.”
Leadership cull
Those comments are increasingly significant given the scale of the expected overhaul.
With James Tavernier moving towards an exit after more than a decade at Ibrox, Rangers are preparing to dismantle much of the existing leadership structure inside the dressing room.
There also remains persistent interest in senior figures including Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Jack Butland as the club reshapes both the squad profile and the leaders within it.
Head coach Danny Rohl has similarly indicated this summer will involve aggressive mental restructuring rather than cosmetic, technical additions.
Against that backdrop, Ferguson’s name inevitably carries emotional weight.
Lewis Ferguson Ibrox connection
The son of former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson and nephew of club legend Barry Ferguson has never hidden his desire to eventually play for Rangers.
Yet he also acknowledged the financial realities involved.
“Last year, they couldn’t afford him because when we had Juventus and Napoli with offers on the table, they were talking about paying something in the region of €20-€25million.”
Read Rangers analysis
For now, Ferguson’s trajectory continues to point towards Europe’s elite rather than an immediate return to Scotland.
His father recently hinted that another continental move may already be on the horizon after four years in Bologna.
“It just seemed the right time to leave,” Derek Ferguson said when comparing the current situation to his son’s eventual departure from Aberdeen.
“For me, this looks like the right time here as well.”
Whether that next challenge emerges in Milan, Spain or the Premier League, Ferguson increasingly looks like the type of player Rangers aspire to produce and eventually compete against again under Cavenagh’s rebuild.
The problem, at least for now, is that he still sits firmly above the level Rangers are currently capable of reaching in the market.
Unless the American’s are willing to break the 26-year Gers transfer record of £12m spent on Tore Andre Flo, the rumours for Ferguson will remain rumours for the foreseeable future.
