Rangers ‘hopeful’ of striking quick Casper Widell agreement as £2m deal lined up
Rangers are “hopeful” of striking a quick deal to beat off their competition and sign Excelsior centre-back Casper Widell, sources have told Football Insider.
The Glasgow giants have been “keeping tabs” on the 23-year-old in recent months, and are prepared to go head-to-head for his signature with English Championship duo Derby County and Blackburn Rovers.
Widell is into the final year of his contract with Excelsior, and sources have indicated that the Dutch outfit will be willing to cash in on him for a fee in the region of £2-2.5million this summer.
Danny Rohl’s side are understood to be capable of paying such a fee, and feel that swift decision-making could prove the difference and allow them to win the race for the Swede.
Rangers want to add to their defence ahead of next season, and Widell is a player who they feel would be an ideal fit to slot into their backline.
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VISIT THE RANGERS TRANSFER HUBRangers think Casper Widell would add quality to their backline
Centre-back has been identified as a key area of priority for Rangers and their recruitment team this summer, as they are currently looking thin in terms of their options in that position.
Nasser Djiga and Derek Cornelius are both set to return to their parent clubs, which leaves Emmanuel Fernandez, John Souttar and Dujon Sterling as the only senior players capable of filling the role.
| Stats | Widell Totals |
| Apps (Starts) | 34 (34) |
| G/A | 2 |
| Defensive Contributions per 90 | 10.2 |
| Tackles per 90 | 0.97 |
| Duels Won % | 60.6% |
| Dribbled Past per 90 | 0.47 |
With that in mind, the Light Blues are already weighing up their options regarding potential additions in that area, and Widell has been identified as a player who could be an ideal fit for them.
The youngster has surpassed 30 league appearances in each of his three seasons since moving to Excelsior, and was an ever-present in the league this season, as he appeared in all but six minutes of the campaign.
He helped his team to survive relegation this term with some assured performances, and that has now seen him attract plenty of admirers over in the UK as a result.
The former Sweden U21 international is likely to be on the move this summer, due to his contract situation causing issues for Excelsior, and Rangers could be set to profit from their misfortune.
With a cut-price transfer likely to be on the cards, there is no shortage of interest in the ex-Helsingborg man, but Rangers feel that they are well-placed to secure his services at the moment.
Gers ‘doing everything’ to agree new deal for Findlay Curtis
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Rangers are “doing everything in their power” to tie Findlay Curtis down to a new contract this summer.
There are concerns that the starlet could be prized away from Ibrox if he impresses at the World Cup this summer, and as a result, the club hierarchy have already held talks to try and secure his future.
Curtis caught the eye on loan at Kilmarnock in the second half of the season, and is understood to be looking for assurances that he will take on a bigger role at Rangers next term.
The winger is building a growing reputation for himself after some exciting performances in 2025-26, and given that, Rangers are clear that a new deal for him is necessary if they want to keep him long-term.
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