Player ready to consider Rangers exit as McInnes freezes out Gers ace

Rangers return from the international break with a major opportunity when Kilmarnock visit Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.

Derek McInnes’ side entered the break in outstanding form after winning six consecutive matches across all competitions, and that run included two huge victories over Celtic.

Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

The Teddy Bears first swept their rivals aside with a 3-0 League Cup win before Ryan Naderi secured a 1-0 triumph at Parkhead just a week later.

Those results changed the mood around Ibrox following a difficult opening to the campaign.

Rangers are now only two points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and can move above them before Martin O’Neill’s side travel to Motherwell on Sunday.

The challenge for McInnes is ensuring his players return with the same energy and discipline they showed before the break.

Kilmarnock sit at the bottom of the table, but their recent performances suggest this will not be completely straightforward.

They are unbeaten in their last three league games after drawing with Aberdeen and Hearts either side of a 1-0 victory at Hibs.

Rangers will still be heavy favourites, especially at Ibrox, where Kilmarnock have struggled badly in recent years.

McInnes has found a settled defensive partnership in Olwethu Makhanya and Emmanuel Fernandez, with Rangers keeping clean sheets in both Old Firm victories.

REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Another shutout on Saturday would provide a strong platform for extending their winning run.

However, Rangers are already looking ahead to the January transfer window as McInnes considers adding another central defender.

Rangers ready to revive Casper Widell deal as John Souttar exit plan takes shape

REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

According to Football Insider transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke, the club are preparing to revisit their interest in Excelsior defender Casper Widell.

The 23-year-old came close to moving to Ibrox during the summer, but the deal collapsed because Rangers were unable to move John Souttar out of the squad.

Widell was apparently ready to make the switch and had held positive discussions over the move.

Despite his disappointment, the Swedish defender is still willing to consider joining Rangers when the window reopens.

That could give McInnes another chance to complete a deal which has been under consideration for several months, but Souttar remains central to the situation.

The Scotland international has been frozen out of the first team and Rangers are continuing to search for a solution which would allow him to leave in January.

His proposed summer move to Greece failed to cross the line, leaving him at Ibrox without any realistic route back into McInnes’ plans.

Should Rangers finally agree his departure, Football Insider reports that they intend to return for Widell as a possible replacement.

The timing could work in their favour because Widell’s contract with Excelsior expires next summer.

January may represent the Dutch club’s final opportunity to receive a transfer fee rather than lose him for nothing.

Who is Rangers target Casper Widell?

Widell is a tall, right-footed centre back who has been with Excelsior since 2023, developing into an important member of their defence and would arrive with experience of regular football in the Netherlands.

Rangers are not short of central defenders, particularly following the strong starts made by Makhanya and Fernandez.

However, Souttar’s continued exclusion leaves an unwanted player taking up space in the squad, and replacing him with a younger defender who actively wants the move would make far greater sense.