To cut to the chase: I can see the attraction of Lewis Ferguson and why McInnes might want to build a new-look team around him, but the economics and long-term upside of signing Dahl and Dragojevic feels the smarter play. You get two young players with room to grow rather than one ready-made midfield option who will cost a lot more.

Ferguson makes sense on paper

Ferguson ticks obvious boxes. He looks like the sort of player who can step in, add bite and quality, and give a manager an immediate platform to build from. To be fair, experienced midfielders who can do the hard yards and influence games are always in demand, and you can see why we'd want him.

Why Dahl and Dragojevic appeal

But then you look at Dahl and Dragojevic. From what supporters and those watching clips have said, Dahl is only 20 and has real scope to develop. Dragojevic looks like quality too. Both provide potential on the pitch now and upside off it in a few years. The point that stands out is value for money: getting both for a combined fee of around £12million, supposedly about £5million less than Ferguson alone, changes the calculation. Two assets with sell-on potential versus one expensive pick.

Squad balance and the business case

Rangers, like any club, must balance immediate needs with longer-term sustainability. Bringing in younger midfielders gives the manager options, competition in the squad, and a chance to mould players in the club's image. There's also the resale angle — if Dahl keeps improving you could recoup a healthy fee in a few years. That isn’t wishful thinking, it’s just the sensible side of transfer business.

As a fan, I’d be disappointed if we missed out on Ferguson, but I can’t argue with the logic of cheaper, high-upside signings. You get two bites of the cherry, and with a bit of development they might well be worth far more than the initial outlay.

Written by Sir Walter Smith OBE: 29 July 2026

Tags: transfers