Rovers reject Gers swap-deal for Ferguson

Blackburn have rejected Rangers’ offer of a swap-deal sweetener to speed Barry Ferguson’s return to Ibrox.

Rovers have told the midfielder they will grant his transfer request but only if their £6m (€8.65m) valuation is met.

Rangers are the only club he wants to move to as he is desperate to move his family back to Scotland.

But so far Ibrox chairman David Murray has offered £3million and Rangers’ attempts to include fringe players in the deal have been rebuffed.

Rovers chief executive John Williams told the Scottish Daily Mail: “We had a couple of information exchange calls with Rangers in terms of players that might be available. There was nothing of interest to us in the calls and, as the original cash offer has not been increased, there is nothing fresh to report.”

Former England defender Michael Ball was one likely candidate to be offered, with Rangers also keen to off-load Serbia and Montenegro international midfielder Dragan Mladenovic.

Rangers know the only way for the Ferguson saga to be ended satisfactorily is to come back with more cash and they were expected to do just that today.