- Bologna open talks to extend Lewis Ferguson contract amid growing Serie A interest.
- Rangers hopes of signing Ferguson suffer setback due to rising valuation and elite European attention.
- Scotland midfielder remains tied to Bologna until 2028, with improved deal now being discussed.
Lewis Ferguson’s growing stature in Serie A has delivered another reality check for Rangers as the club continue attempting to rebuild towards genuine European competitiveness under Andrew Cavenagh and Danny Rohl.
According to reports in Italy, Bologna have now opened discussions with Ferguson over a lucrative new contract extension.
This update comes despite growing uncertainty surrounding his long-term future at the club.
Lewis Ferguson set for Bologna extension
The Scotland international currently remains tied to Bologna until 2028, but sources in Italy claim the Serie A side are prepared to extend that agreement by a further season while significantly improving his salary package following his rise in status across Italian football.
The development arrives amid increasing transfer speculation around the former Aberdeen midfielder after a mixed campaign personally.
While Ferguson remained an influential figure, regular starts became more difficult to secure at points last season following his recovery from a serious ligament injury and Bologna’s increasing squad depth.
That uncertainty has naturally sparked wider transfer interest across Europe.
Lewis Ferguson moves out of Rangers’ reach
However, it also further complicates any long-term Rangers dream.
Ferguson has never hidden his affection for Rangers given his family ties to Ibrox through father Derek Ferguson and uncle Barry Ferguson.
While his representatives have previously acknowledged the player would like to play for the club at some stage in his career.
Yet the financial gap between aspiration and reality continues to widen.
The midfielder’s agent recently admitted a summer move could become possible depending on Bologna’s plans but also dismissed immediate suggestions of a switch to Rangers given the scale of interest and valuation now surrounding the player.
That stance only reinforces the challenge currently facing Rangers as they attempt to elevate themselves back towards Champions League-level recruitment under the new ownership structure.
Ferguson is now an established Serie A midfielder attracting elite-level attention, notably from Inter Milan.
Floated in a market Rangers are still some distance away from competing within financially.
Bologna outmuscle Rangers financially
Even Bologna’s proposed contract renewal underlines that reality.
A wage increase and extension beyond 2028 would likely place Ferguson even further outside Rangers’ current reach unless the club were prepared to completely shatter their transfer and salary structure.
That appears unlikely despite promises of major summer investment from Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises.
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.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Instead, Rangers’ current rebuild has focused more heavily on leadership, domestic experience and players capable of immediately improving the mentality inside the squad following a disastrous campaign which ended with a third-place Premiership finish.
They have however, reportedly secured a deal to sign Hearts’ captain Lawrence Shankland.
However, Ferguson remains out of reach at the moment.
And although the prospect of the Scotland international eventually wearing blue at Ibrox remains emotionally appealing for supporters.
Bologna’s latest move serves as another reminder that the timing simply does not align for Rangers right now.
For now, Ferguson remains far closer to the Champions League elite than a return to Scottish football.
