www.football-live.co.nr

By John Barnes and Andy Campbell

Advocaat (left) and Ferguson enjoyed success with Rangers

Zenit St Petersburg boss Dick Advocaat has hinted he may try to sign Rangers captain Barry Ferguson in the summer.

Ferguson flourished under Advocaat's management of the Ibrox club in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

"Our central midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk will go to Bayern Munich in May/June," Advocaat told BBC Scotland.

"So if the players in my selection cannot fill in that position, then I have to buy one and Ferguson is definitely a candidate."

Scotland skipper Ferguson, who is now in his second spell with Rangers, was first given the Ibrox armband by Advocaat in 2000.

A few months earlier, Ferguson was voted player of the year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association.

"Everybody knows what I think about Ferguson," Advocaat added. "He's a top player."

Current Rangers manager Walter Smith had been told to trim his squad from 28 to around 20, with the club aiming to reduce their estimated £25m overdraft.

And former Blackburn Rovers player Ferguson was linked with a move to Newcastle United during the January transfer window.

Advocaat led Zenit to a Uefa Cup final win over Rangers last season.