Reported Rangers target calls Celtic midfielder an ‘inspiration’, Hoops urged to sign him

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Reported Glasgow Rangers target Lewis Ferguson has described Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie as an “inspiration” to him (BBC Sport) amid reports that Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard is reportedly very keen on him.

According to a report in the Scottish Sun from May, Gerrard has made the Aberdeen ace one of his top summer targets along with Lyndon Dykes of Livingston.

Ferguson, like uncle Barry and father Derek, used to be on Rangers’ books, but while the latter two enjoyed illustrious careers at Ibrox, the former was released by the Gers in 2013 and went on to join Hamilton Academical.

The 20-year-old broke into the Accies first team in 2017 and was on the move to Aberdeen a year later, where his career has gone from strength to strength as one of the first names on Derek McInnes’ team sheet.

To date, Ferguson has made 82 appearances for the Dons, registering an impressive 11 goals and 17 assists from midfield in all competitions, and this term he has made 38 appearances, scoring three goals and claiming nine assists.

Christie, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength at Celtic following his two loans at Aberdeen in 2017 and 2018, and Ferguson hopes for similar from his career.

“When you look at how Christie’s career went, when he came up to Aberdeen he took it to another level,” Ferguson told BBC Sport.

”The club and the staff helped him do that. He obviously went back to Celtic and took it up another notch. It’s a bit of inspiration when you look at what he did. I’m looking to emulate that in my career.”

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Ferguson was rewarded with the Scottish Football Writer’s Young Player of the Year award earlier this month, a just reward for his impressive exploits this term.

Given his family links to Rangers and his own stint at the Ibrox club’s academy, you’d think he would be more inclined to join the Light Blues than any other club in Scotland.

However, given he penned a new Aberdeen contract just last year, which takes him to 2024, the ball is firmly in Pittodrie’s court regarding his registration.

And Ferguson could well be in demand from other clubs – former Celtic man Mark Wilson recently urged the Bhoys to move for him.

“I think his quality is there to see. I think he’s a combative midfielder who can break up play but can also score you goals,” he told the Scottish Sun.

“And with Scott Brown coming to the tail-end of his career in the next couple of seasons then with Lewis Ferguson… I think he could quite easily take the step up again and I don’t think he’d be a bad signing to fit into that Celtic midfield.”

That said, if Rangers do manage to sign him, they’d be getting a player with the right attitude and drive to succeed, and hopefully do at Ibrox what Christie has done across Glasgow.