The 23-year-old central defender has a sibling currently playing for Swansea City.

Derby County and Blackburn Rovers are preparing to compete with Scottish side Rangers for the signing of a centre-back who has previously expressed his ambition to play for Manchester United ‘someday’.

At the moment, Derby have not provided an update regarding the future of defender Danny Batth, who was last reported to be in talks over his next steps, as mentioned in the Rams’ retained list.

If the 35-year-old does not renew his deal, Derby will be left with Matt Clarke, Sondre Langås, and Dion Sanderson as their main central defenders heading into the next campaign. Craig Forsyth could also fill that role if required.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers are looking to fill the gap left by former Derby player Eiran Cashin, who joined them on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in January and quickly made an impact at Ewood Park.

According to Swedish journalist Anel Advic, Rangers have shown strong interest in 23-year-old Swedish defender Casper Widell, currently playing for Excelsior in the Eredivisie.

However, both Derby County and Blackburn Rovers are also keen on the centre-back, who has previously admitted that his ultimate goal is to play for Premier League powerhouse Manchester United.

When he was 18, Widell told Helsingborgs Dagblad, “My favourite team is Manchester United, so someday I will play for Manchester United. And I want to do that when I’m at my best.”

He also added, “I’ve always told myself that my goal is to become one of the best in Sweden and one of the best centre-backs in the world.”

Those comments were made during Widell’s early years at his first club, Helsingborgs IF. Having represented Sweden at youth level, he was considered one of the country’s brightest defensive prospects.

In the 2025/26 season, Widell was a consistent presence for Excelsior, starting all 34 Eredivisie fixtures and scoring once, as the Rotterdam-based side finished 13th in the Dutch top division.

According to FotMob statistics, Widell is right-footed, standing tall at 6'3”, and won 106 aerial duels during the 2025/26 campaign — the highest in the league.

Advic further reports that Widell’s contract with Excelsior runs until the summer of 2027 but suggests that the Swedish defender could be available if a suitable offer comes in.

Casper’s elder brother, Melker Widell, aged 24, joined Swansea City from AaB Aalborg in January 2025, adding another layer of family connection to British football.

It remains uncertain whether that family link will influence Casper’s decision regarding a possible move to England or Scotland, but his brother’s presence in the Championship might give Derby or Blackburn an advantage over Rangers.

For Derby, targeting a Swedish centre-back from the Eredivisie would be a logical step. Excelsior was previously home to Kenzo Goudmijn, who joined Derby permanently from AZ in the summer of 2024 after a loan spell. Similarly, Derry Murkin, signed from Utrecht on deadline day in February, highlighted Derby’s growing confidence in recruiting from the Netherlands.

Additionally, Derby already have a number of Scandinavian players in their squad, including Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Lars Jorgen Salvesen, Sondre Langås, and Oscar Fraulo.

Blackburn also have their own Scandinavian representation in Lancashire, with Mathias Jørgensen and Andri Gudjohnsen, even after the departure of Kristoffer Tronstad.

This three-way transfer battle between Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, and Rangers for Casper Widell promises to be an intriguing story to follow in the coming weeks.