‘No-brainer’ – Ferguson names transfer he’d love Rangers to make, he ticks all the boxes
Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to move heaven and earth to bring Vaclav Cerny back to Ibrox, describing a reunion with the Czech international as a straightforward decision that ought to be pursued if there’s any realistic chance of getting it done.
Cerny’s connection with Rangers stems from a hugely productive spell at the club during the 2024-25 season, when the winger was one of the standout performers in Govan. Across 52 appearances in all competitions that season, he contributed 18 goals and a further nine assists — numbers that marked him out as one of the most influential attacking players in the Rangers squad during that campaign. That form didn’t go unnoticed elsewhere in European football. On the back of his performances in Scotland, Cerny earned a permanent move away from parent club Wolfsburg the following summer, joining Turkish giants Besiktas.
His impressive form has continued since making that switch. During his debut season in Turkey, Cerny scored seven goals and registered eight assists across 34 appearances for Besiktas — output that suggests his time in Scotland was no fluke, and that he’s continued to operate at a genuinely high level since leaving Ibrox. That form has carried into the new campaign too, with Cerny already among the goals in the early stages of the 2026-27 season, having featured in all four of Besiktas’ Europa League qualifying matches ahead of the Turkish top-flight season getting underway this weekend against Eyupspor.
The context behind the renewed transfer speculation is straightforward. Derek McInnes is understood to be keen to add one or two wingers to his squad before the transfer deadline, and given Cerny’s history of thriving in Scottish football, combined with his continued strong form abroad, a reunion has emerged as an appealing option as Rangers look to strengthen their attacking options.
It’s within that context that Barry Ferguson, the former Rangers captain and coach, has been especially vocal in pushing for the move to happen. Speaking on Go Radio, Ferguson made his feelings on the matter unambiguous, describing any deal to bring Cerny back to Ibrox as a “no-brainer” — provided, of course, that the two clubs are able to reach an agreement on the specifics of a transfer
Ferguson’s argument in favour of the move centres on several distinct qualities he believes Cerny would bring to the current Rangers squad. He described the winger as a genuine difference-maker, someone capable of changing the outcome of matches through individual quality — a trait he clearly feels Rangers could benefit from as they look to strengthen their options out wide. Alongside that, Ferguson praised Cerny’s professionalism, characterising him as a proper top-level operator both on and off the pitch.
Beyond the pure footballing case, Ferguson also placed significant emphasis on Cerny’s existing familiarity with life in Scotland, and with Rangers specifically. Having already spent a season in Govan, Cerny understands the demands and pressures that come with playing for a club of Rangers’ stature, along with the broader football culture in Glasgow. According to Ferguson, that prior experience would allow him to settle back in quickly and contribute immediately, rather than needing time to adjust to an unfamiliar environment — a genuine advantage over other potential targets who might need a longer adaptation period after arriving in Scottish football for the first time. Summing up his view, Ferguson said the winger simply ticks every box he’d want to see from a potential signing in that position
Ferguson’s public plea comes amid wider reporting suggesting Rangers have been exploring multiple options in the winger department as the transfer deadline approaches. With McInnes keen to bring in additional attacking width, a reunion with Cerny has been positioned as one of several avenues under consideration, alongside interest in other targets, as the club looks to bolster its options in the final third before the window closes.
It’s also worth noting the broader affection Cerny still appears to command among sections of the Rangers support, following such a productive single season at the club. Wingers who deliver strong goal and assist numbers in a short space of time often leave a lasting impression on supporters, and the sense that his departure to Besiktas may have come slightly before his value to the team was fully maximised appears to be feeding into the enthusiasm around a potential return
Despite Ferguson’s enthusiasm, there remains a genuine question over whether a move can realistically be completed. Cerny only left Rangers for Besiktas last summer on a permanent transfer, and his continued strong form in Turkey — evidenced by his contribution in Besiktas’ Europa League qualifying campaign and his early-season form domestically — means the Turkish club would have little obvious incentive to sanction a swift departure, particularly not without receiving significant value in return.
That reality means any reunion, however popular it might be with figures like Ferguson and sections of the Rangers support, would likely hinge on Rangers being able to meet whatever valuation Besiktas placed on the player, as well as Besiktas themselves being open to negotiating a sale in the first place. Clubs are often reluctant to sell key contributors mid-season, particularly ones who have started strongly and remain involved in European competition, which could complicate any move even if Rangers were willing to pursue it seriously.
Were a deal to be completed, it would represent a significant boost for a Rangers side that has endured a difficult start to the season and is understood to be actively seeking attacking reinforcements. A winger with a proven track record of goal contributions in Scottish football, who wouldn’t require an adjustment period to the demands of playing for Rangers, would represent close to an ideal profile for a club looking to add impact in the final third quickly, rather than gambling on an unproven player new to the league.
For now, though, the story remains at the stage of public advocacy rather than concrete negotiation. Ferguson’s comments reflect a clear appetite among some of the club’s most respected former figures for a reunion to happen, but whether Rangers can actually turn that sentiment into a completed transfer will depend on discussions between the two clubs — discussions that, as things stand, have not been confirmed to have progressed beyond the level of speculation and interest. With the transfer deadline approaching, Rangers will need to move quickly if they intend to test Besiktas’ willingness to sell a player who has continued to perform well since leaving Ibrox just twelve months ago.
