'Irks Me Big Time' - Pundit rages at Rangers scouts amid £5m+ transfer verdict

Rangers have missed their chance to sign Lennon Miller from Motherwell, according to an infuriated Derek Ferguson.

The former Gers favourite has long been a big fan of the Fir Park sensation and is particularly annoyed that the club were too slow to take action over a year ago.

The Light Blues were reportedly scouting the teenager during the preseason [Football Scotland, 10 July] but it looks like proving too little too late after he took another leap in development under Stuart Kettlewell this term, and Ferguson is convinced the Well will be looking for north of £5million to let him go.

Celtic are the only club in Scotland in any position to spend that money in the near future, but with clubs elsewhere starting to pay attention Miller’s next move could be further afield.

Premier League side Southampton have already entered the picture [Daily Record, 5 November] but Ferguson has tipped the midfielder to follow a number of Scottish stars, including his own son Lewis at Bologna, in heading to Serie A.

He is frustrated that Rangers have failed to make the most of the talent on their own doorstep in recent seasons, with this season’s arrival of Connor Barron from Aberdeen the most prominent for some time.

The Gers did pick up Miller’s former Motherwell counterpart Bailey Rice in 2022, but while the 18-year-old has made just three first-team appearances since then his ex-teammate has managed 55 and counting back at Fir Park.

Rangers and Celtic to lose out on Lennon Miller to Italy?

Ferguson exclusively told Ibrox News: “They could have [already missed out] but they shouldn’t have been looking at him in preseason, it should have been the preseason before. 

“He’s been on the radar for the last couple of years. He was in and out of that Motherwell side, he was 16-17, you could clearly see that he was very mature for his age, that there was a player there.

“And you could clearly see what you could work with and he was only going to get better. You delve into his dad played football as well and was a good player.

“Why Rangers… this irks me big time, because this has happened in terms of recruitment over the last four, five, six years, that the Scottish talent that’s there staring you right in the face and we don’t go out and get them.

“He’s another one. Motherwell will now be looking to get bids in of at least £5million upwards so Rangers’ll not be in with a shout I’m afraid.”

“The only one that could afford him probably would be Celtic. Whether he would go there I’m not so sure. I think it’ll either be England or maybe abroad.

“Maybe even his old man, his dad, has looked at the number of Scottish guys that are away, even our Lewis, and then you’ve got [Billy] Gilmour, [Scott] McTominay, [Josh] Doig and quite a few are playing abroad. 

“So that may be the course that he’s going to take, but it’s just another that Rangers have passed up.

“I just wonder what the scouts are up to. They’ve gone here, there and everywhere in Europe and then we’ve got some players that we’re playing against, that are staring us right in the face and we don’t go out and get them.”

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues can’t afford not to sack Philippe Clement this season.

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