Big-money World Cup star could sign for Rangers and become Tavernier 2.0

Glasgow Rangers are set to undergo a change in captaincy in the first-team for the first time since James Tavernier took over the armband in the summer of 2018.

Three years after joining the Gers ahead of the 2015/16 campaign, the English full-back was given the captaincy by Steven Gerrard and kept his title until his exit at the end of last month.

The veteran defender left Ibrox as a free agent when his contract expired at the end of June, which means that Derek McInnes has a big decision to make on the captaincy.

After eight years of Tavernier being the captain, winning one Scottish Premiership title, it is now the time for another player to step up as the talisman for the Gers.

It will not be easy to follow in the Englishman’s footsteps, though, as he enjoyed a long and successful career at Ibrox, scoring 144 goals and providing 148 assists in 565 appearances in all competitions.

Rangers make enquiry to sign Scottish star

The 34-year-old star leaves Glasgow with the fifth-most appearances in Rangers history, only behind Ally McCoist, Sandy Jardine, and John Greig.

Whilst it will be difficult to replace a player of his stature, the club are looking at a star who could arrive as McInnes’ own version of Tavernier next season.

According to the Daily Record, Glasgow Rangers continue to eye up a move to sign Bologna central midfielder Lewis Ferguson in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues have already made an enquiry to the Italian side about what a potential deal for the Scotland international could look like.

They have been told that it would take an eight-figure fee to sign the 26-year-old star, and the £12m deal to sign Tore Andre Flo in 2000 is the only time that the Gers have ever paid that much for a player.

However, it adds that Bologna hold an interest in Rangers midfielder Connor Barron. This means that the club could avoid paying an eight-figure fee for Ferguson if they use the former Aberdeen man as a makeweight as part of a deal.

How Lewis Ferguson can be Rangers’ new James Tavernier

The Light Blues need a new captain to replace Tavernier after the veteran’s departure on a free transfer, and Ferguson could be the perfect man for the job.

Despite being a central midfielder, rather than a right-back, the Scotland international could be McInnes’ own version of the defender with the leadership qualities and longevity that he could bring to Ibrox.

The former Aberdeen star has grown into a leadership role as his career has progressed. After not captaining Aberdeen a single time during his spell in Scotland, he has become the club captain of Bologna in the Serie A.

He has shown that he has the mentality and leadership qualities required to lead a team at the top level, with it being particularly impressive that he has been made captain of a club that does not speak his native language.

If he can emerge as a key leader in a Bologna team in a different language, imagine the kind of leader that he could be for Rangers, his boyhood club and the club that both his dad and uncle, Derek and Barry, played for previously.

He has a special connection to the Gers, one that few players who join the first-team have to begin with, and that could give him an edge in the race to become Tavernier’s successor as captain if he joins the Light Blues.

There is still plenty of work left to do, as Rangers have only enquired about his services at this stage, but the midfield star has experience in one of Europe’s major leagues, has played for Scotland at the World Cup, and has experience in the Premiership.

Ferguson could arrive to hit the ground running at Ibrox, given his experience and connection to the club, and that is another reason why he would be a good pick to replace Tavernier as captain.

At the age of 26, the Scottish star would also join in the prime years of his career and would have plenty of years left to give to the club if he wanted to stay for a long time, as Tavernier did, which means that he could have longevity as the captain.

The Bologna ace, therefore, could be the club’s next version of Tavernier as a natural leader who could don the armband for many years to come, hopefully lifting plenty of trophies in the process.

First, though, the board must strike an agreement with the Serie A team to bring him to Ibrox, whether that includes Barron going in the opposite direction or not.