Rangers to submit Casper Widell bid after Luke Graham update – verdict
Rangers will surely make an official bid for Excelsior star Casper Widell after their failed pursuit of Luke Graham.
Reports emerged on Tuesday that Dundee have given the defender permission to leave their pre-season camp in Hungary after bids were accepted from Stoke City and Portsmouth.
The Gers were heavily linked to Graham, and now their pursuit has seemingly ended in failure.
Despite the addition of Ben Godfrey, the Old Firm club is still in need of a centre-back and will now surely make a bid for Widell.
The 23-year-old had been heavily linked to Rangers in early June, and the club may now make him their top defensive target.
Casper Widell could be a bargain buy for Rangers
After a solid season in the Eredivisie, Widell could make the move to Ibrox this summer.
The 23-year-old’s contract is up next summer, and Excelsior are willing to let him go for between £2million-£2.5m.
Rangers previously felt that Widell would be an ideal fit to slip into their backline, and after the Graham transfer failure, which was reported by The Courier, a bid for Widell feels inevitable.
Derek McInnes may face competition for his signature, with English Championship duo Derby County and Blackburn Rovers also keeping tabs on the defender.
However, it remains to be seen if Rangers make an official bid for Widell over the next couple of months in what could be a bargain buy.
How good is Widell?
According to Fotmob on 30 June, Widell had an excellent 2025-26 season in the Eredivisie.
Per 90 minutes, he was averaging, 0.03 goals, 0.07 xG, 4.33 accurate long balls, a 100 per cent successful dribble rate, 3.12 aerial duels won, 0.94 interceptions and 7.31 clearances in the Dutch top flight.
If these stats can be replicated in Scotland, he would be an excellent buy for Rangers and help seal up their leaky defence.
This is one of the biggest tasks McInnes will have to solve over the coming weeks as he prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.
However, with many other defenders also linked with a move to Ibrox, Rangers may have their eye on another target as Luke Graham edges closer to a move to the EFL.