Rangers are making progress in negotiations to hijack and sign a Celtic target from Europe, according to reports.

Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has made it clear that the club’s recruitment strategy this summer will focus heavily on bringing in leaders capable of transforming the mentality within the squad ahead of next season.

After another campaign filled with inconsistency and frustration, Rangers are preparing for a fresh rebuild under incoming manager Danny Röhl. While supporters naturally continue to speculate about transfer budgets and major signings, Cavenagh insists the club’s thinking now extends far beyond simply spending money.

Speaking about the resources available to Röhl, the Rangers chairman acknowledged that conversations around football finances and player recruitment are always among the most discussed topics. However, he stressed that the club’s main priority is constructing a winning team with the right blend of character, leadership, and mentality.

According to Cavenagh, Rangers are prepared to commit additional resources in order to strengthen the squad properly. Yet he believes success will ultimately come from identifying players with the correct mentality rather than merely focusing on transfer fees or wage demands.

He explained that the club’s mindset heading into the transfer market is centred around one question above all else: how to assemble the strongest possible team. Rather than working from a fixed financial figure and building around it, Rangers want every decision to revolve around improving the overall quality and personality of the group.

Rangers Looking For Smarter Recruitment After Major Squad Turnover

Cavenagh also reflected on the enormous scale of changes Rangers experienced over the previous year. The club saw close to 27 arrivals and departures during the last rebuild, creating significant disruption within the dressing room and making consistency difficult to achieve throughout the campaign.

Although another active transfer window is expected at Ibrox this summer, the chairman admitted the club is unlikely to repeat that same level of dramatic turnover. Instead, Rangers are aiming for a more focused and carefully planned recruitment strategy.

There will still be several new signings arriving at the club, but the emphasis will now shift toward improving chemistry, leadership, and balance within the squad. Rangers appear determined to avoid assembling a group of talented individuals without the collective mentality needed to compete consistently for trophies.

That approach also ties into a wider recruitment philosophy currently being implemented behind the scenes at Ibrox. Cavenagh revealed that Rangers now operate with what he described as a “pro-Scottish bias” when assessing transfer targets.

Scottish And SPFL Experience Seen As Key Factor

The chairman explained that if Rangers are evaluating two players of a similar standard, preference will generally be given to the Scottish option. According to him, the club values the mentality, understanding, and familiarity Scottish players often bring to the demands of domestic football.

Cavenagh said Rangers begin their recruitment process by identifying profiles rather than focusing immediately on specific names. The club first determines the type of player needed for each position before examining which footballers best fit that description.

For example, if Rangers require a physically dominant centre-back or a ball-winning midfielder, they analyse factors such as athleticism, pace, size, and tactical suitability before considering nationality or transfer fee.

Even so, the chairman admitted the club consistently asks whether there is a Scottish player capable of fitting the required profile. He believes local knowledge and understanding of the game north of the border can provide an important advantage when constructing a squad capable of handling the pressures of Scottish football.

At the same time, Cavenagh was keen to emphasise that Rangers are not limiting themselves exclusively to Scottish players. He acknowledged that building a title-winning team requires much broader thinking than simply signing domestic talent.

Instead, the club’s policy appears to involve giving extra value to players with either Scottish backgrounds or strong experience within the Scottish Premiership. If two potential signings are viewed as equally effective, Rangers would reportedly favour the player already familiar with the demands of the SPFL environment.

Lawrence Shankland Deal Reflects Rangers’ New Strategy

Rangers have already moved quickly to demonstrate this recruitment approach in action by agreeing a deal for Lawrence Shankland, the Heart of Midlothian striker and current Scotland national football team international.

Shankland’s signing reflects many of the qualities Cavenagh referenced in his comments. The experienced forward possesses leadership qualities, understands Scottish football inside out, and has consistently delivered goals at Premiership level.

However, Rangers are not restricting their ambitions solely to domestic targets. While the club values SPFL experience, they are also continuing to pursue promising talent from across Europe as they look to strengthen multiple areas of the squad.

One of those names is long-term target Silas Andersen, with Rangers now reportedly making significant progress in discussions over a potential move for the talented midfielder.

Rangers Advancing In Race For Silas Andersen

According to reports from Football Insider, Rangers are currently advancing in talks regarding Andersen, despite strong competition from rivals including Celtic and Sporting CP.

The midfielder, who currently plays for BK Häcken, has emerged as one of the most highly-rated young defensive midfielders in Scandinavia. His performances have reportedly attracted interest from several clubs across Europe ahead of the summer transfer window.

Rangers pushing ahead in negotiations could represent an important statement of intent from the Ibrox club, particularly given Celtic’s longstanding interest in the player.

However, there may still be complications standing in the way of a deal. Rangers’ failure to secure qualification for the Champions League could become a significant obstacle in convincing Andersen to move to Glasgow.

The 21-year-old is believed to be eager to test himself at the highest level of European football, and the opportunity to play regularly in elite continental competition may heavily influence his final decision.

That situation could potentially reopen the door for Celtic to regain momentum in the race for his signature, especially if the Parkhead side can offer stronger European prospects.

Andersen Emerging As One Of Scandinavia’s Brightest Talents

Andersen’s growing reputation is easy to understand given the impressive development he has shown over the last 18 months. Standing at 6ft 3in, the Danish midfielder combines physical presence with technical quality and tactical intelligence.

Wearing the number eight shirt for Häcken, Andersen has demonstrated an ability to contribute effectively at both ends of the pitch. His style of play blends defensive solidity with creativity in possession, making him an increasingly attractive option for clubs searching for modern midfield versatility.

Statistically, Andersen’s performances underline that balance. He averages 2.24 successful dribbles and 2.09 tackles per match, while also creating approximately 1.04 chances every 90 minutes.

Those numbers highlight a midfielder comfortable progressing the ball forward while still contributing heavily defensively. For Rangers, adding that kind of profile could significantly improve the athleticism and technical quality within the centre of the park.

The midfielder has also gained valuable international experience at youth level. Andersen is already a Denmark national under-21 football team international, earning seven caps and scoring twice for his country’s under-21 side.

Transfer Value Rising Rapidly Amid European Interest

Andersen’s rapid rise has also been reflected in his market value. The midfielder joined Häcken in January 2025 in a deal reportedly worth around €1 million and signed a contract running until 2029.

Since then, his valuation has increased dramatically following a string of impressive performances in Sweden. By May 2026, Häcken were reportedly valuing the player at approximately £9 million, equivalent to around €10.5 million.

That sharp rise in value follows previous interest from FC Copenhagen, who reportedly had an offer worth €4.4 million rejected earlier in his development.

Now, with Rangers, Celtic, Sporting, Hamburger SV, and all believed to be monitoring the situation, Andersen is becoming one of the most sought-after young midfielders available this summer.

For Rangers, securing his signature would represent a major coup and potentially a significant blow to Celtic at the same time. Yet the competition remains fierce, and the absence of Champions League football could still prove decisive in determining where the Danish talent eventually ends up.

Alongside their pursuit of Andersen, Rangers are also reportedly exploring a possible move for Dan Neil, the Sunderland midfielder, as they continue shaping what could become another transformative summer at Ibrox.