What Rangers future now holds for John Souttar as Clinton Nsiala completes transfer

Rangers have made a decision on John Souttar after selling Clinton Nsiala to Sharjah FC.

The French defender has moved to the UAE after failing to fulfil expectations and struggling for game time at the Gers.

Derek McInnes clearly prefers Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya's partnership at the back, with Ben Godfrey coming off the bench in recent games.

Souttar and Nsiala haven't featured at Ibrox this season and one of them has completed a transfer away.

The Scotland international has also been linked with an exit from the Glaswegian outfit, but his options have whittled down as the days have passed.

As things stand, the 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the Govan side, with the club holding an option to extend it by another year.

John Souttar exit latest at Rangers

Aris wanted to sign Souttar before the end of the Greek transfer window, but failed to get a deal over the line.

The ex-Hearts centre-back hasn't been in McInnes plans since the start of pre-season, but has failed to find a new club.

Teams in England and America were interested in the defender earlier this summer.

While Nsiala has sealed his exit from Ibrox, it doesn't look like Souttar's situation will change.

According to the Rangers Review on 22 September, the Scottish ace is unlikely to play for the Gers again.

The Govan side have no intention of extending the defender's contract beyond this season and he will become a free agent next year.

Why sense must prevail in John Souttar saga at Ibrox

McInnes made it clear to Souttar long ago that he wouldn't have a role to play at Rangers.

With the arrivals of Makhanya and Godfrey, the Gers strengthened their backline in the summer transfer window, leaving the Scotland international way down in the pecking order.

However, there is a sense that the Light Blues may have left themselves short in defence, with just three centre-backs who McInnes seems to be relying on.

Since the Govan side are already paying Souttar's wages, it makes sense to reintegrate him into the squad for the time being as a last-minute option in case there's a fitness crisis in G51.

It will be interesting to see whether the Glaswegian outfit will try to find a solution for the defender in January.