"I know it'll happen" - Rangers target makes Ibrox transfer promise as summer snub boiled down to four words

‘My home is Bologna’ were the words uttered by Lewis Ferguson when asked why a transfer to Rangers didn’t materialise in the summer - but the midfielder is adamant he’ll make the Ibrox switch one day.

The Scotland international has Rangers in the family, with his father Derek and uncle Barry having both worn the royal blue. Despite Ferguson, 27, outlining his ambitions to play for the club, he didn’t think summer was the right time, however he now claims a future move ‘will happen’.

Rangers enquired about bringing Ferguson back to Scotland in summer, however an official offer was never made to Bologna, who reportedly valued the player at £16m. The club captain is enjoying his time in Italy and is no rush to leave.

Ferguson to Rangers will ‘happen’

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferguson said: “Rangers? Let’s just say that sooner or later, I’ll go there; one day I know it’ll happen. The rest is about today: we’ve bounced back now, and we have to ride this wave.”

After a shaky start to the season, Bologna have won four of their last five, springing them up to ninth in the Serie A table. Ferguson, who also had transfer interest from elsewhere during the window, explained why he decided to stay at the club. He continued: “I’d taken a bit of time out. I’d had some enquiries, yes, but I wanted to figure out exactly what to do with my life, whether to change direction or carry on as I was.

“Then I thought, ‘Bologna has given me so much’. In short: I took my time and then said just four words: Bologna is my home. And I want to stay here for at least another year. I’m certainly not thinking about how long I’ll stay, but I’m definitely thinking about how I’ll stay. Bologna has been home since day one, I’ll say it again, and I’m having a brilliant time here.”

What did Derek McInnes say about summer interest in Ferguson?

Rangers boss Derek McInnes worked alongside Ferguson at Aberdeen before he made his switch to the north of Italy. Amid summer transfer rumours, the Ibrox gaffer said: "All I want to do is bring players of a high level, a technical level, and the ability to play for Rangers.

"Obviously, there are a number of players that have been linked with us that do possess that. So, I think it’d be wrong for me to speak about any player individually. I understand it’s an obvious link (Ferguson to Rangers), but we have just got to work away, see what we can do and what we can bring into the club. And if it’s clear that we can’t bring people in, then we move on quickly.”