Rangers failed to follow through on a deal to sign Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson from Bologna this summer, despite the 27-year-old having already agreed to make the move to Ibrox, according to his father Derek Ferguson.
The former Rangers player revealed that no formal offer was ever submitted to the Italian club, leaving the transfer to collapse before it could properly get off the ground. Derek Ferguson is doubtful that the move could be resurrected when the January transfer window opens, suggesting the opportunity may have passed for good.
The news comes amid a mixed summer transfer window for Rangers, who also struggled to complete other significant deals. Besiktas were unable to meet Rangers' asking price of around £20m for midfielder Nicolas Raskin, with the Turkish side falling short of the valuation the Ibrox club had set for the 25-year-old Belgian international. Manager Derek McInnes believes Raskin's best route to securing a lucrative move now lies in impressing on the pitch, with a January switch potentially back on the table if his form warrants it.
There was also no resolution regarding John Souttar's future, after a proposed departure from Rangers failed to materialise. McInnes has indicated that further clarity on the 29-year-old centre-half's situation will be provided in the coming days.
Across Glasgow, Celtic's transfer activity has drawn a mixture of scrutiny and praise. The Scottish champions had been willing to pay approximately £9m for Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, but the Italian club's valuation of closer to £13m proved a stumbling block. Torino head coach Ignacio Abate expressed satisfaction at keeping hold of the 22-year-old Lithuania international, who remains a key figure in his squad.
Celtic did complete a separate deal, bringing in 18-year-old left-back Landon Emenalo on loan from Chelsea to provide cover for Kieran Tierney. However, the signing has raised eyebrows given that Emenalo has yet to make a senior appearance for Chelsea. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton questioned the logic behind the move, suggesting several alternative options might have been more suitable, including Dundee United's Will Ferry, Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo, or PAOK's Greg Taylor.
Despite such criticism of the club's recruitment strategy, former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has come out in strong support of the current transfer business, describing the work done in the market as outstanding. Strachan's comments offer a counterpoint to some of the more critical assessments of Celtic's approach this summer.
Elsewhere in Scottish football, former national team boss Steve Clarke has disclosed that he had to actively push the Scottish FA to finalise a new contract shortly before this summer's World Cup finals. Clarke said he felt the governing body was reluctant to commit fully, prompting him to seek greater certainty over his future ahead of the tournament.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl around Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans, with reports suggesting both Hibernian and Preston North End are monitoring the 63-year-old Scot as a potential managerial option, should either club decide to make a change in the dugout.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, Open Goal, Daily Record, The Herald, Glasgow Times, The National, The Scotsman, and Football Insider.