Edinburgh News report that Rangers failed to meet John Souttar’s asking price of £500,000 on deadline day. Rangers did make an offer to sign the defender on Monday, but their final bid was less than £400,000.
Souttar, 25, has of course, signed a pre-contract arrangement with Rangers ahead of the summer. His Hearts contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and Gio van Bronckhorst’s side have pounced early.
Having sorted a pre-contract out for the four-time Scotland, there was belief that Rangers could get Souttar at Ibrox before the end of the January window. Edinburgh News report that Hearts wanted £500,000 on Monday.
But the report also states that while an offer was made from Rangers – who signed Aaron Ramsey and Mateusz Zukowski on deadline day – the report was less than £400,000. Souttar will remain at Hearts until the summer.
Rangers bid for Souttar: Did Ibrox club need Scottish star now?
Arguably not. While Souttar is a good signing and improves their current options, the Gers are about to welcome back two of their centre-backs from injury. Leon Balogun has been ruled available to face Celtic on Wednesday.
Calvin Bassey is impressing alongside Connor Goldson despite his mistake against Ross County. Filip Helander is a few weeks away from a return, but is making progress. Rangers have four solid options at centre-back.
That could change in the summer. Goldson and Balogun are both out of contract at the end of the season and that is why Souttar has perhaps been signed on a pre-contract – and not any earlier.
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