Robbie Neilson tells BBC if Souttar’s Hearts exclusion was Rangers related
Robbie Neilson has confirmed that John Souttar missed Hearts’ 5-0 win on Saturday due to an injury and not related to his imminent Rangers move.
The 25-year-old has agreed a pre-contract deal with Gers and is set to join them in the summer.
However, Gers are keen on signing him this month so he can be available for them for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.
When he wasn’t included in the squad for the Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday, many expected that he was on his way out.
However, Neilson told the BBC that he was left out due to an ankle injury and reiterated his stance of wanting the player to stay at the club in January.
Worth signing in Jan?
Gers are understood to have offered a fee in the region £300,000 for the 25-year-old to move during January.
But, Hearts are holding firm with their stance and are looking for around £500,000.
It remains to be seen who blinks first as Neilson clearly wants him to stay while he would fancy moving to his new club as soon as possible.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst would certainly want him at Ibrox as Connor Goldson appears to be on his way out and he could ease Souttar in as the Englishman’s replacement.
As things stand, the two parties are at a stalemate and it remains to be seen whether Gers offer that kind of money.
The fee mentioned is not that high anyway, so if they’re desperate for him, they’re well equipped to land his services in January itself.
In other Rangers news, a BT Sport pundit has claimed that the Gers will seal a January deal for an ‘Incredible’ int’l ace