Rangers and Celtic Transfer Window Updates: Ferguson, Raskin, and Emenalo

Lewis Ferguson was ready. Rangers were not.

According to his father Derek, the Scotland midfielder had agreed to join the Ibrox club this summer, only for Rangers to fail to follow through with a formal offer to Bologna. The 27-year-old, who has rebuilt his career impressively in Serie A, looked set for a high-profile return to Glasgow – but the move simply never moved off the talking stage.

Derek Ferguson now doubts there will be a second chance in January, suggesting the window of opportunity for his son to pull on a Rangers shirt may already have closed.

Raskin stays put – for now

While one major exit never got started, another stalled late.

Besiktas were unable to reach the £20m figure Rangers had been bargaining on for Nicolas Raskin. The Turkish side’s interest was real, the numbers weren’t close enough. The Belgian midfielder remains at Ibrox, and manager Derek McInnes believes the message is clear for the 25-year-old: play, perform, and earn that big-money move when the window reopens.

Raskin now faces the challenge of refocusing quickly, with his future very much back in his own hands.

Uncertain future for Souttar

John Souttar’s situation also hangs in the air.

A transfer away from Rangers failed to materialise for the 29-year-old Scotland centre-half, leaving him in a holding pattern as the season settles. Derek McInnes has promised to reveal more about Souttar’s future early next week, hinting that the defender’s story in this window might not be entirely finished, even if the deadline has passed.

Celtic push, Torino refuse to budge

Across the city, Celtic’s recruitment drive hit resistance in Italy.

The Scottish champions were prepared to pay around £9m for Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, but the Serie A club value the 22-year-old closer to £13m. That gap proved too wide. Head coach Ignacio Abate is delighted to have kept hold of the Lithuania international, who remains central to Torino’s plans.

Celtic, though, did manage to add cover at left-back – and sparked debate in the process.

Emenalo loan questioned

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has openly questioned the decision to bring in 18-year-old Landon Emenalo on loan from Chelsea as cover for Kieran Tierney.

Emenalo has yet to play a senior game for Chelsea, and Sutton finds it “confusing” that Celtic turned to the teenager instead of targeting options already established in Scottish or European football, such as Dundee United’s Will Ferry, Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo, or PAOK’s Greg Taylor.

The move underlines a wider tension around Celtic’s transfer policy: a blend of potential and risk that does not convince everyone.

Strachan backs Celtic board

Gordon Strachan, though, sees it differently.

The former Celtic manager has praised the club’s overall recruitment, describing it as “phenomenal” despite the criticism aimed at the board. While some supporters remain unconvinced by certain deals and missed targets, Strachan’s backing offers a powerful counterpoint from someone who knows the demands of the job and the club’s expectations inside out.

Evans on the radar

Away from the Old Firm, one experienced Scot could soon be on the move.

Steve Evans, the 63-year-old currently in charge of Bristol Rovers, is being monitored by both Hibernian and Preston North End as a potential candidate should either club decide to change managers. His name sits quietly in the background now, but managerial dominoes tend to fall quickly once one club makes a move.

In a window defined by near-misses, hard lines on valuations, and simmering discontent in the stands, the real question is simple: who handled the gamble of this market better – the club that walked away, or the one being told its “phenomenal” business will have to prove itself on the pitch?