Pranav Shahaney

Sat 15 January 2022 21:41, UK

Alex Rae has urged Rangers to sell defender Jack Simpson to an English club and use the funds they generate from it to buy John Souttar.

Gers announced the signing of the 25-year-old on Friday and he is set to join them at the end of the season on a free transfer.

However, given their defensive crisis and Connor Goldson’s uncertain future, they could want to sign a centre-back this month.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard Rae, the BT Sport pundit, said, “It really depends on how much they want him (Souttar to Rangers).

“Now, you could try and punt the boy Simpson. There are links with Middlesborough, Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United as well.

“If you could sell him for £500K you could maybe throw a couple of quid on top of that. You would weaken Hearts, but if you get rid of Simpson and bring in Souttar I think Rangers are stronger going into the second part of the season.

“I think the deal has to get done, but I think it will drag on to the end of the month. I think Hearts will look for top dollar and then it will come to some sort of resolution.”

Good idea

Rae is confident that Gers will seal the deal for Souttar which is big news as they desperately need a centre-back coming through the door.

Simpson is already an outcast at the club and losing him would not affect many.

It would also free up space on the payroll and most importantly give them funds to manoeuvre in the transfer market.

Souttar is rated extremely highly by Kyle Lafferty who has labelled him as “incredible”. [Scottish Sun]

Being a full Scotland international, he will add experience and cohesion to this Rangers side and prove to be a real asset for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

It remains to be seen whether the club are willing to shell out that kind of money for a player they’re eventually getting for free at the end of the season.

In other Rangers news, Chris Jack has made a Rangers exit claim after a major development this week