‘All paper talk’: 22-year-old comments after Tottenham and Everton links

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Stoke City defender Harry Souttar has played down reported interest from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, telling FTBL that the rumours are little more than ‘paper talk’ as things stand.

‘Paper talk’ it may be, but what cannot be disputed is that Souttar’s performances are starting to turn heads at the top of the English game. 

According to the obviously well-connected Stoke Sentinel newspaper, both Spurs and Everton have scouted the giant centre-half of late, Toffees assistant Duncan Ferguson taking a special interest in a man who honed his talents north of the border at Celtic and Dundee United before making his name in Staffordshire.

Souttar is not going to get carried away just yet, however, putting all distractions to one side as promotion-chasing Stoke look to build on an impressive start to the new Championship season under Michael O’Neill.

The 22-year-old certainly doesn’t sound like a man packing his bags and preparing for a January departure.

Will Harry Souttar stay at Stoke City until next summer?

“I think it is just all paper talk to be honest with you,” said the 6ft 6ins Souttar, who has been valued in the region of £20 million by Stoke legend Mike Pejic.

“There has been a lot of things said. I tend not to read them or try to get involved with them at all. The transfer market has been and gone.

“My focus at the moment is on the Socceroos and as soon as I get back to club football it is purely on Stoke City and trying to get the club promoted by to the Premier League.”

A physical and commanding player who also boasts the technical qualities required of a Premier League defender at the highest level, Souttar could potentially replace Yerry Mina at Goodison Park, with reports claiming the Colombia international is dreaming of a move to Italy in 2022. 

“There were a few whispers just before we went to the Olympics about a few Premier League clubs (being interested),” Australia coach Graham Arnold said last week.

“Harry’s got so much potential. He’s great to have around. He’s got such a great mentality and he’s such a great kid. It’s fantastic for Australia and for Harry if those type of things (a move to the Premier League) happen.”