Excelsior centre-back Casper Widell has revealed he was close to joining Rangers last summer, but the move collapsed after an unnamed player refused to leave Ibrox.
The 23-year-old Sweden under-21 international said he was keen on the move to Glasgow, but a directive from higher up at the club prevented the signing until another defender departed.
Widell on the brink of Ibrox move
Speaking to Swedish newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad, Widell detailed the hectic summer interest in his services. "It was hectic. Clubs started reaching out as early as the end of the previous season," he said.
"When I got back to Sweden, I discussed it with my agent. He had compiled a list of fourteen clubs that had made contact—and that was after he'd already ruled a few others out."
The defender admitted he was keen on a move to Rangers, adding: "I had some good conversations with them. Then they changed managers, but their interest remained just as strong."
Blocked by a refusal to leave
Widell explained the stumbling block: "However, there was a directive from higher up in the club stating they couldn't sign another defender until someone else left."
"It looked like one player was going to leave. He wasn't in the matchday squad—and still isn't. They offered him loan moves and the like, but he refused to leave and still refuses. In the end, nothing came of it."
The player in question is understood to be John Souttar, who dropped out of manager Derek McInnes's plans after entering the final year of his deal. Souttar failed to find a new club despite interest from English Football League clubs and Greek side Aris Thessaloniki late in the window.
Future at Excelsior
Widell, who is out of contract next summer, revealed he had alternative offers but chose to stay at Excelsior. "I didn't have the same gut feeling about them. Towards the end of the transfer window, I was pretty much set on either joining Rangers or staying for another year to see what happened in the winter or the following summer," he said.
He now remains at Excelsior and will assess his options in the winter window.
