Rangers are in talks to sign the Premiership’s best midfielder

As Andrew Cavenagh publicly admitted this week, there will be change at Glasgow Rangers this summer, with the Ibrox side pursuing a policy of prioritizing Scottish or Premiership targets.

Be it Oliver Antman or Andreas Skov Olsen, among others, many of the marquee signings from abroad have failed to fulfill their obligations in Glasgow, struggling to adapt to the rigors of Premiership football.

This does not mean that all the players who have signed players who are ready for the Premiership have borne fruit, just look at Lyall Cameron or Bojan Miovski, but chasing those who have succeeded in the league seems wise before next season.

With Danny Rohl’s future at the club seemingly secure, it is now about building a team that can challenge again under Germany, in Europe and at home.

Rangers are already in talks to sign the £3m Premiership star

It will be hoped that the Gers will be able to pick the best talent the club can offer, with the long-term move of Dundee’s Luke Graham to Ibrox mooted.

Equally, the Light Blues are believed to be part of Motherwell star Elijah Just, with the New Zealand international enjoying a fine season under outgoing manager Jens Berthel Askou.

The 26-year-old has not been the only one to catch the eye at Fir Park, however, with the Scottish Sun reporting that Rangers have begun working to sign fellow starlet Elliot Watt.

According to the report, both Rangers and Celtic, as well as Cardiff City, have opened discussions regarding the midfielder’s move, as all three clubs are said to have made ‘enquiries’.

The piece notes that Well are under no pressure to sell, but would want to cash in if their £3m valuation is reached, having put in a bid to that price.

Why Watt could be the next Steven Davis for the Rangers

Midfield, even Glasgow star Nicolas Raskin, has long been a problem for Rangers, as many arrivals have fallen back in recent years.

Whether it’s Jose Cifuentes, Joe Rothwell or the aforementioned Cameron, the Gers have been hot on the heels of midfield signings, far from the quality and depth Steven Gerrard had during his title-winning 2020/21 season.

At that time, Gerrard could call on the likes of Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara, as they once again relied on veteran Steven Davis, following the return of the Northern Irishman in 2019.

Not blessed with speed, power or physicality, Davis’ game was all about keeping the ball and moving forward, keeping things moving as a top-class operator, even in his later years.

Watt, hailed by writer Kai Watson as “the best midfielder in the league this season,” has been cut from the same outfit, having been a key, central midfielder for Askou’s side recently.

The impressive Scot, like Davis, is not a ball-winning destroyer or a physical specimen, but he is very easy on the eyes, pulling the strings in the heart of Motherwell’s pitch.

In 2025/26, for example, he scored and assisted nine league goals, while creating six ‘big chances’ and an average of 1.1 key passes per game, often looking for that sharp, probing pass to those in front of him.

He’s always looking to call and control the pass, as he’s averaging 97.1 touches per game in his 34 starts, all while recording an 86% pass accuracy rate.

Overall, the £3m player actually made the second most accurate passes in the entire division (2347), behind Celtic’s Liam Scales in this regard.

At a time when it is often centre-backs, such as Scales, who excel in touch and passing, that speaks to Watt’s ability to control the game from midfield instead, potentially being the man to finally bring some calm to the Gers midfield, in the same vein as Davis.

For context, in that brilliant 2020/21 campaign, Davis ranked fourth in the division that season in passing accuracy (2246), and averaged 81.7 touches per game and boasted an 89% pass accuracy rate across his 29 starts.

The parallels between the retired intellectual and Watt are clearly there to see, with Rohl’s side seemingly crying out for someone who can bring a sense of calm and serenity.

The best Rangers this season were dominant and uncompromising out of the gate, whether it was a 4-2 win over Hearts or a 2-2 draw with the Old Firm at Ibrox, yet the next step could see games come out with a sense of control, turning the basketball game into a chess game instead.

Watt, who is coming off a fantastic season at Fir Park, could be the difference next season.