Could Rangers make Ferguson marquee signing?

Ross McCrorie's mere mention of Lewis Ferguson sent the Rangers support into overdrive.

Speaking for the first time since returning to Ibrox, the versatile defender, unprompted, spoke of his relationship with the Scotland midfielder, their days in the Govan club's academy and their time at Aberdeen under Derek McInnes.

With reports suggesting Rangers are interested in a marquee deal to sign Ferguson, fans are purring over the prospect of the Bologna captain reuniting with McCrorie and his former Dons manager.

Here, BBC Scotland looks at what the 26-year-old would offer to a club where his family are so deeply ingrained and examines how realistic a potential move is.

Neither Rangers nor Bologna are commenting on the Ibrox club's reported interest in Ferguson, who is said to be keen on a return home to Scotland.

But talks on his future in Italy, which appears uncertain, will have to wait until he returns from his current post-World Cup holiday next week.

That has not stopped speculation Bologna have slapped a £17m valuation on the midfielder.

Paying anywhere close to that figure would mean Rangers smashing their transfer record, which was set in 2000 when they splashed out £12m on Tore Andre Flo from Chelsea.

Ferguson is Bologna's captain. He lifted the Coppa Italia last year - their first silverware in five decades.

Despite starting fewer than half of Bologna's league games last term, he still played 45 times across all competitions, contributing to a total of 135 appearances over four seasons at the Serie A club.

Although it remains to be seen what Ferguson's role will be under new head coach Domenico Tedesco, it is with good reason that Bologna still value him highly.

Standout showings for an underwhelming Scotland side at the World Cup will only have enhanced that.

Ferguson was arguably Steve Clarke's top performer across their three group matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. He played every single minute.

On a per-90-minute basis, he made more accurate passes than any other Scotland player and ranked second for most tackles, defensive contributions, and possession regains in the final third.

His stature in the national side has grown immensely in the past 12 months. Captain Andy Robertson hailed Ferguson as Scotland's key man throughout World Cup qualifying.

An average of nine goals per season across four campaigns at Aberdeen, before his move to Bologna, highlights his goalscoring ability. He also registered 23 assists for the Pittodrie club.

Goals have dried up in recent seasons in Italy, where he won Serie A midfielder of the year in 2023-24, but his displays on the world stage this summer showcased his all-round game.

Ferguson has become an excellent ball-winner, while his set-piece delivery has also been key for Scotland in the past year.

However, perhaps above all, Ferguson would return home a leader having captained Bologna since 2023.

His uncle Barry was a legendary captain at Ibrox, winning multiple domestic honours and also managing the team on an interim basis last year. Dad Derek played for Rangers between 1983 and 1990.

Fans of the club have long lamented a lack of leadership within their squad, and with former long-term captain James Tavernier gone and goalkeeper Jack Butland departing, experience has left the squad.

The arrival of Lawrence Shankland should help fill that void, and Ferguson would too. The Scotland duo, plus McCrorie, also fit into McInnes' idea of needing a Scottish core running through his squads.

A break clause in Shankland's Hearts contract allowed Rangers to snap him up for nothing, while McCrorie rejoined for a reported fee of £1.5m.

Both deals represent shrewd business for two Premiership-proven players, but it will likely take a hefty bid, in Scottish football terms, to bring back Ferguson.

With doubt surrounding the future of Nicolas Raskin, a sizeable fee for the Belgium midfielder, who is also featuring at the World Cup, could help supplement a potential statement replacement in Ferguson.

The Ibrox ownership showed last season they are happy to spend big, but whether they spent well was another debate.

Ferguson would be a more risk-averse option in that regard, given his prior Premiership pedigree and subsequent development, as Rangers aim to avoid another trophyless season after last term's sobering third-place finish.