Andy Halliday has urged Rangers to cash in on Nico Raskin and use the millions to help tempt Lewis Ferguson to Ibrox. The former Gers midfielder reckons the Scotland international is exactly the type of character new boss Derek McInnes will want in his side.
Ferguson still has two years left on his deal in Italy with the option of a further 12 months. But Halliday expects offers for Raskin to arrive this summer. And should Rangers chiefs’ valuation be met on the Belgian then he reckons the money would be best invested in reuniting Ferguson with his former Aberdeen boss McInnes.
He said: “You're talking about ticking boxes, low risk, Lewis Ferguson fits that mould. The only question is, what is the value of a player that's done so well in Serie A? He was the best midfielder in the league two seasons ago, captain of Bologna. But in terms of character, desire, knows what it's like to play in Scotland, knows what the club's all about, can get around the younger players, I think that’s what Derek's going to look for.
“Listen, it's inevitable that a couple of players at Rangers are going to have a lot of interest. What fee can Rangers demand for Nico Raskin? Could you go and use that for Lewis Ferguson? It's as simple as that. Raskin's at the World Cup, I thought he actually came on and made a really positive impact for Belgium (against Egypt). So I think you use this money and get a player that you know is a ready-made replacement. Although it's of vital importance to get players that know the league, Rangers still need quality. Lewis Ferguson ticks both of the boxes.”
Halliday’s former Hearts team mate Cammy Devlin is another who has been touted to follow McInnes down the M8 to Govan. The midfielder is out of contract at Tynecastle and currently on World Cup duty with Australia. Devlin has a big offer from Real Salt Lake in the MLS as well as interest in Turkey and a new deal on the table at Hearts.
But Halliday said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a no-brainer. Listen, Cammy deserves the speculation, deserves a move. But I've seen so many players that have done ever so well outside the Old Firm, and can they make that jump in terms of quality? Character-wise, 100 per cent. I think he'd be a brilliant player for the dressing room. But would Cammy Devlin come in and immediately improve Rangers starting XI? I'm not too sure. I think that's one that you maybe sign and see. It’s a free transfer, it's very low-risk. Derek knows him better than anyone, so it wouldn't surprise me whatsoever if there was interest in there. And I do think he'd be a good signing, don't get me wrong, but would he immediately improve a starting XI? I'm not sure.”
Rangers meanwhile, will begin their Premiership campaign away to Dundee United. The Derek McInnes era will kick off at Tannadice on Friday, July 31, at 8pm and will be beamed out live on Sky Sports.
Halliday said: “It is a very tough start. In all fairness, Hearts took care of Dundee United at Tannadice pretty well last year. Such was their success, I think, how well they managed to win the winnable games, as you would call them. But they're the fixtures that Rangers have struggled for a number of years now. Away games against teams that, on paper, you'd expect them to beat, but they've made hard work of it over recent years. So, obviously, a big task that Derek's got is trying to win these games where they should, away from home.”
* Andy Halliday was speaking on behalf of SPFL sponsors, William Hill, on the launch of the 2026/27 William Hill SPFL fixtures.
