Rangers host Premier Sports Cup holders St Mirren in the last 16, with Derek McInnes still seeking his first win as Rangers boss. The struggling Light Blues are looking to bounce back from their midweek Europa League exit, while St Mirren have won two from two under Craig McLeish and sit top of the Premiership after a flying start.
Pressure Mounting at Ibrox
McInnes knows the threat posed by the Saints, having suffered defeat to the Paisley men at this stage of the competition last term while in charge of Hearts. But he cannot afford a repeat at Ibrox, with pressure already building on the Rangers boss. The home crowd could reach breaking point if the Glasgow giants put in another dreary display to crash out of the cup.
St Mirren have won five of their six matches in all competitions this season under Craig McLeish, conceding just one goal during that run.
Transfer News and Team Updates
Meanwhile, Frosinone coach Massimiliano Alvini has left the door open for Fares Ghedjemis to leave the club this summer amid interest from Rangers. The Light Blues reportedly saw an £8million-plus bid for long-time Celtic target turned down, just days after an offer from the Hoops was kicked out. An injury saw a £7million move for the 24-year-old fall apart, despite the Moroccan making an appearance at Ibrox to watch Thursday's Europa League exit at the hands of Jagiellonia Bialystok. Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe insists the club do not have to sell key man Ghedjemis, but Alvini admits departures are on the cards.
Declan John, who returns with St Mirren, knows what it's like to be a young man dropped into the deep end amid a Rangers crisis. John moved on loan from Cardiff to Ibrox as gaffer Pedro Caixinha's 11th summer signing of 2017. The transfer became permanent mid-season, but the Portuguese coach was long gone by then. Caixinha's terrible tenure ended on the night of John's Ibrox bow in October – a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock. John was then one of the few to shine in Graeme Murty's chaotic interim reign, with Jimmy Nicholl finishing up in charge. He admits being mired in the madness for a year was the making of him.
Lewis Ferguson has revealed he would listen to offers to leave Bologna if interest was "concrete". Ferguson has finally spoken about his future after Rangers made their interest in the Scotland international clear this summer. The Glasgow giants approached the Italian side over a deal, with the prospect of a player-plus-cash deal floated amid Bologna's interest in Connor Barron alongside a mega £17million deal. Any move would see him follow in the footsteps of his dad Derek and uncle Barry, who both turned out for the Light Blues. But Domenico Tedesco appears to view the 26-year-old as a key figure in his midfield, with his assistant Andrea Tarozzi branding the playmaker "fundamental" to the club. Dad Derek branded the pursuit by the Scottish Premiership side a "waste of f****** time" earlier this week. However, Ferguson has left the door open despite stating he is in no rush to leave the Serie A club.
