For many Rangers fans, the three big targets this summer were Vanja Dragojević, Jens Hjertø Dahl and Lewis Ferguson. Three massive midfielders who would have made an apparent huge difference to Rangers’ middle. With the arrival of Dragojević, it does appear now definitively that this is the end for Hjertø Dahl and Ferguson too.
Rangers ended their Ferguson interest
Ibrox Noise, of course, reported recently that Rangers’ interest in Ferguson had ended. Indeed, it had ended over a month ago, after that inquiry by Rangers to Bologna to find the lay of the land. Consequently, Rangers realised very quickly that this deal was not workable. It was not within financial constraints and not within the feasibility limits of Scottish football.
Rangers could not justify up to £30M on one player. That could likely be Rangers’ entire budget for this summer period, preferably a lot less. But it certainly couldn’t go on one player.
Hjertø Dahl price proved too high
The same applies to Hjertø Dahl. Hjertø Dahl would have cost around £8M and now appears to be going to Wales with Cardiff City. We will see if that one takes place. But Rangers could not also justify the fee for that player either.
The price was simply too high, given the relatively unproven potential of the boy, despite excelling in the Norwegian top flight. That, of course, is not quite the same as doing it for Rangers. Spending that level of cash was a big, big gamble. So in the end, Dragojević is the only one that comes.
However, given Cammy Devlin’s enterprising start to life as a Rangers midfielder, it appears that he and Dragojević will be Rangers’ first choice midfield. There will, of course, be others. And, of course, as we know, there are many other midfielders to choose from.
Rangers still need a playmaker
But the question is, we suppose, how Rangers fans feel about losing out on Hjertø Dahl and indeed Lewis Ferguson. Both of them were titans. Both of them were big midfielders that Rangers fans wanted. But neither of them will come.
The question is, who will be pulling the strings in midfield? Who will be the playmaker? Who will provide the creativity in that area?
Rangers have screamed for a Barry Ferguson type in the middle. A six, dictating playmaker, deep lying pass finder and deep lying destroyer. A Scott Brown style of, indeed, modern midfielder who can dictate and push the midfield on his own.
Rangers had that in our Barry Ferguson for a long, long time and have searched for something like that since. Steven Davis briefly, slightly filled that role, but not for long enough and not fully.
Could Chukwuani receive another chance?
Today, there is no one who is like that. It was deemed that Ferguson’s own nephew could be the answer. But the price there is just too high.
We don’t know enough about Hjertø Dahl to suggest whether he could have been that player. However, we had hoped, of course, that January signing Tochi Chukwuani could do that. That was his CV, to lie deep in the midfield and dictate play.
Of course, he didn’t even remotely turn out to be anything like that as of yet. But he may well be another one who gets a second chance next season.
But as it is, of the big three midfielders that Rangers were in for, we got one. At the end of the day, one is better than none.