---
title: "Rangers: Interest in Willian Pacho “legit”"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-interest-willian-pacho-gers-michael-beale-transfer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Cameron Winstanley"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2023-01-09T18:40:15Z"
modified: "2023-01-09T18:40:15Z"
---

# Rangers: Interest in Willian Pacho “legit”

**[Rangers’](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-news/) interest in centre-back Willian Pacho is “legit”, according to journalist Dean Jones.**

### **The Lowdown: Interest in Pacho**

The Gers hold a keen interest in the Royal Antwerp centre-back, with [The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/10025838/rangers-transfer-antwerp-william-pacho-monaco-ecuador/) reporting that the [SPFL](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premiership-news/) side have scouted the 21-year-old and will go head-to-head with Monaco to sign the Ecuadorian.

The report also claims that the Belgium side’s general manager, Sven Jaecques, hinted they’re already analysing replacements for the youngster such is the level of interest.

He said: “If a transfer bid is offered that we cannot refuse – and I must stress that we haven’t received a suitable one yet – we have to be ready with a replacement for him.”

### **The Latest: Jones update**

Jones revealed to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88101872-rangers-south-american-star-william-pacho-ecuador-michael-beale-scottish-premiership-ibrox) that Rangers are now convinced he’s the right fit to challenge Connor Goldson and Ben Davies.

He said: “The scouting of him seems legit and they’re happy with the type of player he is. Now we wait to find out whether they will take that next step in terms of trying to sign him.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418915″\]

### **The Verdict: Interesting move**

At only 21, Pacho boasts great [experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/willian-pacho/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/661171) in European competition and also for one of the main title challengers in Belgium over the last couple of years, with them finishing in the top four for [three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/royal-antwerpen-fc/platzierungen/verein/1096) years in a row.

Pacho has featured in [25](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/willian-pacho/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/661171/plus/0?saison=2022&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) games already this season for Antwerp, who currently sit third in the Jupiler Pro League, keeping [11](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/willian-pacho/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/661171/plus/0?saison=2022&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) clean sheets across all competitions this year, including in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

He’d certainly be an intriguing arrival with Michael Beale facing difficult injury concerns at centre-back since his arrival, as Goldson and Davies were both [unavailable](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3890177) to play his first game, while continued problems to Filip Helander and John Souttar remain on the [injury](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/glasgow-rangers/sperrenundverletzungen/verein/124) table at Ibrox, so more backup is perhaps needed.