Rangers dealt blow with Hearts ‘standing firm’ on John Souttar – report
Hearts are ‘standing firm’ on a January departure for Rangers target John Souttar, according to the Daily Record.
It looks as if the Gers will have to settle for Souttar on a free in July after securing him on a pre-contract with his contract up at the end of the season.
The Bears did put in a £300,000 bid for the 25-year-old which was rejected with the Jambos rejecting it after valuing their man at £500,000.
Hearts look to have successfully warded Rangers off who are yet to come back in with a bid for the defender, despite Toby Sibbick arriving at Tynecastle.
Patience
It would have been a huge boost for the squad to bring in Souttar in January, but the main thing is that he is coming to Ibrox.
It’s hard to justify spending half a million pounds on a player that is free in the summer, so the lack of counteroffer is understandable.
With that being said, Gers fans would no doubt support the premature signing of Souttar after making a pre-contract agreement earlier in the window.
There is still time left for a late swoop for the centre back.
He is on thin ice at Tynecastle with the fans unhappy with the player, booing him now that he is back in the team after being left out amid the ongoing transfer speculation.
It would be smart for Hearts to cash in for their star man having already brought in his successor in Sibbick. Some money is better than no money for a player who is leaving regardless.
In other Ibrox news, ‘Many possibilities’ – van Bronckhorst outlines Rangers remaining Jan plans.