To keep it simple at the moment there are two schools of thought:
1. Smith and his team may want the player to remain settled, feel wanted and to see his status as captain recognised.
2. Martin Bain and perhaps the chairman may feel that his wages are excessive and his performances not worthy of such a huge outlay.
Ferguson himself has made it clear that he wants to stay but will this add to the pressure he will be under to sign anything? What if it is a year by year rolling contract at a third of his present salary? This is not impossible to imagine. Would he sign or would professional and personal pride force a move? Would any of us take a hugely less generous contract? What if the chairman steps in and simply refuses to countenance such a huge contract?
The points raised at the start also come into play:
1. No CL means no chance of £30,000+ a week. None at all. The contract offered will be part of Operation Slash And Burn.
2. When Thomson is fully fit will Ferguson play every week? The manager's attitude indicates that this would be the case but with Thomson injured we'll never really know what shape the midfield would have taken. He has lacked sharpness and struggled for form but will having genuine competition in there change the manager's thinking?
3. System. We assume Smith will continue to play a version of 4-5-1 and I remain unconvinced that shoe-horning all four of our central midfielders will be able to play together. None have much pace, or can play as a natural wide player and with such defensive full backs we would struggle to create anything from the flanks.
My own view is that Ferguson will face a huge choice. I cannot see any new deal being anything like his current one, and who knows how that will sting his pride? Could a £2m transfer to the Championship be on the cards? Will he finish his career at Ibrox? Watch this space.....
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