Pundit issues ‘honest’ verdict on Rangers signing Souttar by transfer cut-off
Noel Whelan has claimed Rangers will not be eager to spend big money to secure an early deal for John Souttar.
The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Gers have got enough to win the title this term without paying over the odds for the defender.
Rangers confirmed on Friday (14 January) that Hearts defender Souttar, 25, has signed a pre-contract agreement with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side ahead of a summer move to Ibrox.
According to the Daily Mail (15 January), the Edinburgh club are holding out for a fee of £500,000 plus add-ons in order to release the centre-back early.
Whelan insisted Rangers will be reluctant to part with that money despite having £16m “burning a hole in their pocket” after the sale of Nathan Patterson.
“They’ve got that Patterson money burning a hole in their pocket,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“But if they feel like they’re in a strong enough position to win the league without Souttar, then there’s no need to waste £500,000.
“At the moment they’re in a great position, and they’ve got a really healthy points lead over Celtic.
“So if they can get by with what they’ve got between now and the end of the season, they can use that money elsewhere.
“I think they’ll feel they’ve got enough to see them through without pulling the trigger on that deal, to be honest.”
Four-time Scotland international Souttar has been virtually ever-present for Hearts this term.
The 25-year-old has made 173 Scottish Premiership appearances since becoming Dundee United’s youngest ever player in 2013.
In other news, Rangers exit tipped for this month after source’s update.