Rangers transfer news as John Hartson reacts to Celtic hijack question on Harry Souttar
John Hartson has admitted that Celtic desperately need centre-backs amid suggestions that Brendan Rodgers could hijack any Rangers move for Harry Souttar.
The Leicester City defender has been a long-term target of Michael Beale’s this summer as he looks to strengthen his defence before the transfer deadline on 1 September, with reports that a loan deal could be agreed in the final days of the summer [The Athletic, 30 August].
But with the deal seemingly taking longer than first anticipated to be completed and the Gers’ Glasgow rivals also in need of new options at the heart of their side, Hartson was asked whether he could see Rodgers reuniting with Souttar and hijacking the deal.
Appearing on The Go Radio Football Show (29 August), he replied: “I don’t know what Harry Souttar is thinking. I don’t know whether Brendan thinks he’s a good fit. You are right, Celtic need centre-backs.
“We are decimated. I am not making excuses.”
Weaken rivals, help yourself
Rangers seem desperate to try and find the funds to make a deal for Souttar possible between now and the end of the transfer window and you would imagine that would become a lot easier should they qualify for the Champions League with a win over PSV.
In securing the services of Souttar they would not only be strengthening their backline, but also preventing Rodgers from signing a defender that he only brought to Leicester City in January that would massively help them.
Although the Foxes and the Australian defender had their struggles at the back end of last season, he is more than capable of impressing in Glasgow and would be an excellent addition to the backline at Ibrox this summer.
With an eye on the Old Firm derby on Sunday (3 September) Beale will be excited by the “decimated” defence currently at Celtic and will likely believe that his side, with their new forward options, will be more than capable of causing them plenty of trouble this weekend.
In other Rangers news, there has been a transfer update surrounding a link between Rangers and a former Manchester United star