Charlie Nicholas believes Rangers will beat Nottingham Forest in the race to sign Scotland international John Souttar from Hearts, speaking to the Daily Express.
It’s tempting to wonder how many of this current Rangers squad will still be at Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s disposal when 2022/23 kicks off.
Veteran duo Allan McGregor and Steven Davis are facing uncertain futures while, if reports are to be believed, Rangers’ most in-form player – Joe Aribo – has no intention of putting pen to paper as it stands.
And while Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun are yet to make a decision on their own Ibrox futures, you get the feeling that, if the centre-back duo wanted to stay, they’d have committed themselves to the Glasgow giants a long time ago.
As such, Van Bronckhorst has little choice but to prepare for life without Goldson or Balogun.
Vitesse Arnhem captain Danilho Doekhi admitted last week that Rangers were ‘following’ him but the 23-year-old Dutchman is not the only centre-half on their radar.
And, according to the Daily Record, Souttar is now learning towards a move to Glasgow despite plenty of interest from below the border.
Are Rangers going to win the race for Hearts’ John Souttar?
“Rangers have made a push for him and by all accounts Giovanni van Bronckhorst has made his move personally and that could sway his decision,” says Nicholas, the Celtic legend.
“I know Nottingham Forest are one of the teams who are in for Souttar. But if he can’t get a club who is more stable or established then I am not sure he’d make the move.
“If that is the case then I think he will end up at Ibrox. At 25, he is at a good age and if Rangers offer him a long-term contract for the next three or so years then that could swing it.”
Souttar, like Goldson and Balogun, will be without a club in July and he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with one of his many suitors this month.
Alongside Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and Sheffield United have been linked, though Stoke City appear to have walked away from the table.
“I can see the value in Rangers making a move for Souttar. He is an established Scotland international with his best years still ahead,” Nicholas adds.
“He just needs to pick the right club for him and one where he will play every week. I think that would definitely be the case if he goes to Rangers.
“I don’t expect Connor Goldson to stay beyond the end of the season. I can’t see Van Bronckhorst sitting about and not having a replacement or a plan B.”
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