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Rangers legend Colin Hendry has called on the club to pursue Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson as part of their summer recruitment overhaul.
The Ibrox club has publicly committed to signing players with strong Scottish football connections under new manager Danny Rohl.
Lawrence Shankland has already arrived from Hearts as the first high-profile addition in what appears to be a deliberate shift in transfer strategy.
Hendry sees clear parallels between the current rebuilding project and his own arrival at Rangers from Blackburn in 1998.
Speaking via BestBettingSites.co.uk, Hendry said: “It’s very similar to when I signed for Rangers back in 98 when I was leaving Blackburn. There was an exodus of people; Walter Smith had gone, Coistie left.”
He continued: “The new manager came in, and I spoke to David Murray, and he just said, listen, we want to put a little bit of Scottish identity back into the team.”
Hendry added: “The fans would like to see a bit more homegrown. And the thing about it is as well, it’s not an objection to foreign players because the foreign players were very, very good for Rangers in the period when I played for them.”
Ferguson, 26, has strong family ties to Rangers, with both his father Derek and uncle Barry having represented the club during their playing careers.
The Scotland international featured regularly for Bologna in the Europa League this season but found starting opportunities in Serie A more limited toward the end of the campaign.
Ferguson’s agent Bill McMurdo has distanced the player from a potential switch at this stage of his career, but Hendry believes Rangers should still test his commitment to the idea.
Hendry said: “Lewis Ferguson, again, my son Callum played with Lewis up at Aberdeen when he was on loan there from St Johnstone. I know his dad, and I know his uncle, obviously.”
He added: “He was set to go to a big, big club in Italy, and because of the injury, he didn’t make it. So, but listen, it’s another name to consider.”
Hendry also noted that Ferguson’s experience in top-flight Italian football would make him a compelling addition to Rohl’s squad if a deal could be struck.
Beyond Ferguson, Hendry has also highlighted teenage Rangers prospect Findlay Curtis as a player capable of forcing his way into the first team picture next season.
The 19-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Kilmarnock and is now preparing to represent Scotland at the World Cup.
Hendry said: “Certainly when he goes back to Rangers, I would expect him to be starting after what he’s done at Kilmarnock in the second half of the season.”
He added: “If he can show his ability consistently at Rangers, then I would expect him to at least be a figure in the initial stages and see how things go from there.”
The combination of established Scottish talent and developing homegrown prospects appears central to Rangers’ ambitions of returning silverware to Ibrox.
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