Albion keen on Rangers' Ferguson

Sources in Scotland suggest Ferguson was present to see the Baggies' defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, after being sounded out about a move to the Midlands.

While Albion have played down suggestions of a personal visit from the 31-year-old, he has been mentioned at the club as a potential recruit for a fresh assault on the Championship next season.

Ferguson's career at Ibrox is over, after the late-night drinking session that earned him a lifetime ban from international football.

Friends of the former Blackburn man reckon he would be tempted by the prospect of a potential Championship title challenge, rather than a battle against relegation at the foot of the Premier League.

He is now keen to extend his career after considering retirement in the wake of the Scotland scandal and he seems certain to move to England for a second spell in the summer.

But hopes of a possible double Baggies raid on Rangers appear to be receding – thanks to Ferguson's situation at Ibrox.

Former Hibernian midfielder Kevin Thomson, who is a long-standing target for Baggies manager Tony Mowbray, will take on the club captaincy at the Old Firm giants when he returns from injury next season.

His elevation to replace Ferguson as the 'main man' in the Rangers midfield is likely to end any speculation about his future, putting paid to Baggies hopes of resurrecting a move.

Thomson was keen on a switch to the Hawthorns early in his Rangers career because of the chance to link up again with Mowbray, who oversaw his early career at Hibs.

But the Baggies had two near-misses in their attempts to sign him and he has now settled at Ibrox.

Ferguson could fit the bill as the experienced holding midfielder Mowbray wants, and is willing to take a drop on his reported £30,000-a-week Rangers pay.