Rangers star is creating 'three problems' for Derek McInnes: 'This is bad'

Rangers should have worked much harder to find an exit for out-of-favour centre-back John Souttar in the summer.

That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Gers have planned their squad poorly in that respect.

Souttar came within inches of moving to AEK Athens shortly before the Greek transfer deadline, but the deal fell through due to the defender demanding a pay-off from Rangers.

However, Wyness believes that the Ibrox outfit should have just taken the deal, even if it may not have been "attractive" for them at the time.

Souttar is out of contract next summer, and Wyness is in no doubt that his value is now "eroding" by the day.

The 30-year-old made 38 appearances for Rangers in all competitions last term, but has quickly been frozen out by Derek McInnes, with no sign of that situation changing.

Rangers left with three John Souttar 'problems'

Aberdeen's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that Souttar staying put at Ibrox has now created "three problems" for McInnes and Co.

The ex-boardroom man views the defender's depleting value as a key issue, alongside the fact that Rangers are still having to pay his wages, while he is also blocking a place in the squad that could be taken by a younger player.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why he believes Rangers were wrong to not take the deal with AEK Athens.

"This is bad. It's like the old Rangers' bad squad planning, and this should have been addressed, and he should have gone to Athens in some way," he said. 

"You're stuck not only with the wages for a player of that seniority, which will still be considerable for Rangers, but it's also a position in the squad that you can't bring somebody else in, whether it's youth or some other position that you can't do that. 

"And of course his value is eroding because he's not going to be involved much going forward. So it's bad all round, and that's exactly why an early deal, even though it may not have been attractive at the time, if they'd done their sums they'd have realised they probably should have taken it. 

"Now you're stuck with those three problems, so it's a case that you've got to have this succession planning. We keep on saying it, week after week."

Souttar could potentially return to Rangers team

Football Insider revealed last weekend that Souttar may not have played his final game for Rangers just yet, despite him being firmly down the pecking order.

Everything points towards a January exit for the former Hearts man, but he may yet have a role to play before the winter window opens.

Sources say that should an injury crisis occur at Ibrox, McInnes intends to swallow his pride and recall Souttar to the fold if needed.

The defender has been firmly out in the cold so far this term, but may yet be called upon in the coming months.