Barry Ferguson has questioned the wisdom of Jake Hastie agreeing to sign for Rangers in the summer.
The 20-year-old has signed a four year pre-contract agreement at Ibrox, as reported by the Scottish Sun, but former Gers man Ferguson isn’t sure it’s the right move.
Speaking on PLZ Soccer, as quoted by the Scottish Sun, he said: “The young boy [Hastie] has made the decision. Do I think it is the right one? I personally don’t.
“I would rather he done what his team-mate done [David Turnbull] and stay there. Get good experience and get a lot of games under your belt
“He’s made a decision and Rangers have got a good player and we will see how he goes next year.”
OPINION
You can understand Ferguson’s reservations, but hopefully he will be proven wrong. It is easy for a young player to have their head turned by a move to a big club, get there, and then spend a lengthy spell not actually playing much football at all. Look at Lewis Morgan, who has spent the second half of the season on loan from Celtic at Sunderland. By comparison, playing week in, week out for a side further down the league can really help a player grow into himself, and can bring him on no end. That being said, you get the impression that Steven Gerrard isn’t the sort of manager inclined to just sign players for the sake of it. He is a big believer in youth, and if he thinks Hastie is a good fit for the club, then you can bet that he will get his chance to prove as much. Hastie is a talent, no doubt about it, and despite Ferguson’s protestations, this should be a decent move.