Aberdeen’s windfall if Lewis Ferguson transfers out of Bologna is set to rocket after the former Don was named the best midfielder in Italy’s Serie A.
Bologna captain Ferguson was presented with the Bulgarelli Number 8 Award, given to the best midfielder in the Italian top-flight for a campaign.
The 24-year-old’s stock was sky-high already, but landing the prestigious award will further elevate his reputation – and value.
And that is great news for Aberdeen, who sold the midfielder to Bologna for £3 million in summer 2022.
Aberdeen negotiated a huge 20% sell-on fee should another club complete a deal to sign Ferguson from Bologna.
Such was Ferguson’s phenomenal impact in Serie A, he signed a contract extension last November tying him to I Rossoblu until summer 2027.
Ferguson’s form this season has been fundamental to Bologna’s rise to fourth in Serie A, where they are on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League.
The former Pittodrie star pitched in with six goals and four assists in 31 league appearances while pulling the strings in Bologna’s midfield.
That form saw five Italian Serie A big-hitters reportedly tracking Ferguson with the view to a summer transfer window swoop.
Napoli, Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Inter Milan were all credited with interest in Ferguson.
Napoli were understood to be preparing a bid of around 25 millions euros, or £21m, for him this summer.
That would see the Dons land more than £4million due to the sell-on clause.
However, those figures were before Ferguson was named the best midfielder in Serie A for the 2023-24 season.
To put the enormity of that achievement into perspective, World Cup-winner Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus) is a former winner.
World Cup-winner Paul Pogba (France) also won the award while at Juventus, before his £89m transfer to Manchester United in 2016.
The accolade was also previously won by World Cup-winners Xavi and Andres Iniesta (both Spain, Barcelona) when it was still open to all European competitions before it changed to a Serie A-only award.
Ferguson has thrived under the guidance of Bologna manager Thiago Motta, the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris St-Gemain midfielder.
Motta has primarily used Ferguson as a No.8 this season and he has excelled in that role.
Ferguson is now the highest-scoring Scotsman in Serie A history, overtaking Aberdeen-born Manchester United and Scotland legend Denis Law.
Unfortunately a dream season ended on a low when Ferguson suffered a cruciate ligament injury last month.
Ferguson has since undergone successful surgery.
He was on crutches when accepting the Bulgarelli Number 8 Award from former AC Milan and England boss Fabio Capello.
The Scotland international is ruled out of this summer’s Euro 2024 finals in Germany.
The injury may also put on ice any potential big money transfer bids for the midfielder this summer.
However, when Ferguson does return to fitness, such is his talent and attitude, he will inevitably continue his sensational form in Italy.
Even if not this summer, a big money bid will be made for Ferguson.
If a bid is accepted, Aberdeen will be able to cash in to the tune of 20% of any fee.
Secured for a development fee from Hamilton in 2018, Ferguson is one of Aberdeen’s greatest signings of the last 20 years.
And he is the signing that will keep giving for the Dons.
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