Derek Ferguson has pointed to a controversial historical transfer from Celtic to Rangers while discussing Jose Cordoba’s decision to join Norwich City amid rumors linking him to Ibrox.

The highly-rated defender, who has been impressing at Levski Sofia, was reportedly a target for Philippe Clement. Recent signings of left-back Jefte and winger Oscar Cortes by the Belgian manager, along with Leon Balogun’s contract extension, indicate a reshuffle among experienced players at the club. While talks had progressed to the point of reported medical assessments in the Bulgarian media, the deal eventually fell through, leading Cordoba to sign with Norwich City instead.

Ferguson, a popular figure at the club, drew parallels with the much-debated 1989 transfer of Mo Johnston from Celtic to Rangers. The former Celtic star’s surprise move caused quite a stir among fans on both sides of the Glasgow divide, highlighting the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of football transfers. Ferguson reflected on this, stating, “It happens. It’s football. Sometimes it can happen at the last minute. I’ll give you an example. Mo Johnston signed with Celtic before a lucrative contract was put in front of him from Rangers, and at that time Mo was a big Celtic fan and ended up signing for Glasgow Rangers so you couldn’t see that coming.”

He further emphasized the fluidity of player decisions in the sport, pointing out that various factors such as financial incentives, playing in the English leagues, or personal preferences can influence a player’s choice. Ferguson concluded by acknowledging that these twists and turns are just a part of the unpredictable world of football transfers, stating, “It might be money, it might be the lure of English football, but you can’t get too upset about that it’s just something that happens.”