Sheffield United ready to outbid Rangers to sign John Souttar
Sheffield United are ready to outbid Rangers when it comes to signing Hearts defender John Souttar, according to the Scottish Daily Mail.
The newspaper reported via their print edition on Saturday [8 January, page 123] that Hearts are resigned to losing the 25-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season and is available for clubs to sign on a pre-contract deal.
It is understood that Rangers have made a contract offer to the Scotland international but clubs in the English Championship have been able to stump up more lucrative terms.
Moving to Rangers does reportedly appeal to Souttar as if he does well at Ibrox, he could attract Premier League interest south of the border.
As it stands, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers are two of the clubs keen to sign the ex-Dundee United centre-back.
Thwarted
Rangers may have had their bank balance boosted massively by a club-record sale of Nathan Patterson – but the difference in finances between Scottish and English football is still massive.
We’ve played in European football this season but it sounds as though we’re still unable to match Blackburn when it comes to offering a deal to Souttar.
Blackburn have been in League One more recently than they’ve been in the Premier League but they are still banked by Venky’s, one of the richest club owners in English football.
Sheffield United also have two years of Premier League income to play around with and parachute payments from their relegation so battling both of these clubs is tough.
However, the lure of winning silverware and playing in Europe – possibly the Champions League – should still be a major deciding factor for Souttar.
To be frank, if he wants to go to England just so he can earn more money then we don’t want him.
But if he’s willing to turn down a more lucrative deal in the English Championship in order to sign for Rangers, play for us regularly, win trophies and play in Europe, then we’re all for it.
In other Rangers news, Tom English has mooted a Gers swoop to sign this “classy” forward in January.