Glasgow Rangers have already dipped into the Scottish Premiership market to bolster their squad this summer with the signing of Lawrence Shankland.

The Scotland international joined on a permanent deal from Hearts last month after scoring 16 goals in the league this season, and he has scored three goals in two caps for his country since making the switch to Ibrox.

Shankland may not be the only player to join directly from a Premiership rival before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as the Gers have also been linked with Motherwell star Elliot Watt.

Celtic have also been linked with an interest in the 26-year-old central midfielder, who is said to be valued at a price of £3m by the Scottish side ahead of the window opening later this month.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Light Blues are prepared to splash out several millions to bring the Scottish star to Ibrox in the coming weeks.

Rangers pushing to sign new central midfielder

Watt scored six goals and provided three assists in 34 appearances in the Premiership for Motherwell during the 2025/26 campaign and would arrive in Glasgow as a proven performer in the division.

The Light Blues, however, are now being linked with a move for a player who would be Danny Rohl‘s own version of Watt, without costing millions of pounds.

According to former Premier League scout Mick Brown, Glasgow Rangers chiefs are pushing to secure a deal to sign Sunderland central midfielder Dan Neil in the summer transfer window.

The English star’s contract is due to expire at the end of this month and the Gers are hoping to land his services on a free transfer to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said:“He (Neil) will be keen to go up there and prove himself, show his qualities and hopefully be part of a team which can change their fortunes.

“It won’t be easy, but it will be appealing, so if Rangers are pushing to sign him like I’ve heard, it’s a deal I can see them getting over the line.”

How Dan Neil can be Rangers’ own version of Elliot Watt

If the Light Blues can get a deal over the line to sign Neil on a free transfer, as Brown suggests that they are pushing to do, they may not need to spend £3m on Watt.

The Sunderland star, who spent the second half of this season on loan at Ipswich Town, is used to playing in dominant teams after winning promotion from the Championship in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns.

Like Watt, the 24-year-old star is a metronomic midfielder who likes to get on the ball and dictate play, progressing the ball forward to thread moves together and to create chances for his teammates directly.

Neil’s 2025/26 campaign was disrupted as he struggled for minutes in the Premier League in the first half of the season, but his statistics as a regular starter in the Championship for the Black Cats last term show that he is a similar player to Watt.

Both central midfielders are duel winners who bite into challenges and make plenty of tackles and interceptions to help their teams out defensively, whilst also offering quality on the ball with their passing ability.

Neil’s performance against Oxford United for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light in the 2024/25 season is a great example of how he can be just like Watt for Rohl.

The English star, who was described as a “perfect” player for the German boss by journalist Josh Bunting, completed 70 of his 75 attempted passes, made ten ball recoveries, and provided an assist in a 2-0 win over Oxford.

Neil is a complete midfield player who can offer quality on and off the ball in the middle of the park, just as Watt does for Motherwell, and that was on display during his loan spell with Ipswich this season.

The Gers target won 54% of his ground duels and 64% of his aerial duels across 16 appearances in the Championship for the Tractor Boys as they earned automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Now, Rangers have the chance to sign him for nothing at the end of the month, and they could land Rohl his own version of Watt by doing so.