Having initially appeared as the early front-runners for Scottish World Cup defender John Souttar, Leicester City may now be forced to cast their net wider in the search for a centre back. With the Foxes likely to sell his older brother, Australian international Harry Souttar, this summer as part of their efforts to cut their wage bill, plans are in full swing as Leicester attempt to rebuild from consecutive relegations.
Reports suggest that growing interest from Championship clubs is turning the 29-year-old’s head, with Souttar reportedly aiming higher than a season in League One. According to the Daily Record, second-tier trio Sheffield United, Watford, and Cardiff City all hold an interest in the Rangers man, and a seven-figure fee will likely be needed to strike a deal with the Ibrox outfit.
Derek McInnes is overseeing a summer of change at Ibrox, as the Gers start afresh following last season’s pulsating three-way Scottish title race that ultimately saw them edged into third place. The widespread admiration of Souttar from south of the border represents a good financial opportunity for the club in transition, with a bidding war possible between a cluster of interested parties.
While Russell Martin’s presence at the King Power Stadium might offer Leicester fans hope of a reunion with his former player, the deal is becoming increasingly difficult to complete, given Souttar’s ambition to challenge himself at the highest possible level.
Will Overhaul At Leicester City Stop The Rot?
Leicester City’s defensive options are set for a significant overhaul by the time the season resumes, with the Foxes faithful eagerly anticipating the dawning of a new era at the King Power Stadium. Having been prevalent in the Foxes two previous relegation campaigns, Jannik Vestergaard, Ricardo Pereira, and Victor Kristiansen have all moved on, leaving their new manager with gaps to fill at this current juncture.
Russell Martin will start his reign with considerable pressure, as his new team is tipped as one of the League One title favourites. However, he’ll need a squad willing to fight for every ball if he is to overcome the losing mentality and dwindling confidence that have taken root at the King Power. The 45-year-old knows Souttar’s combative qualities well and will likely be the driving force behind negotiations. However, it remains to be seen whether the biggest challenge will be convincing Souttar to choose League One over Championship offers or meeting Rangers’ anticipated seven-figure demand.
The news that Souttar remained in Glasgow to consider his future, rather than joining Rangers’ pre-season tour of Spain, strongly suggests that a move to English football is inevitable for the former Heart of Midlothian man. With nearly 300 senior appearances in his homeland under his belt, a change of scene and the new challenge it would bring could offer him a new lease of life, especially following his North American World Cup adventure this summer.
Three Championship Clubs To Go Head-To-Head For John Souttar
The players clear preference for a move to the second tier should certainly encourage interested teams to make their move. It’s no secret that Chris Wilder is actively seeking an experienced central defender this window, with the veteran boss plotting a more ambitious season after what was a year of consolidation at Bramall Lane last time out, a reality he doesn’t want to repeat.
Having seemingly been priced out of a move for Leicester’s Harry Souttar, the Blades’ attention appears to have shifted to the older of the brothers. With Kiwi Tyler Bindon and Leo Hjelde returning to their parent clubs, and Ben Mee retiring from professional football, Sheffield United absolutely must prioritise defensive reinforcements in the coming weeks.
Wilder has consistently shown a keenness to link up with tried and tested players, an approach evident once again with the summer arrival of the highly experienced full-back Matt Doherty. Throughout a 13-year, three-club career in the Scottish Premiership, Souttar has become a reliable figure with impressive distribution, boasting a 91% passing range for Rangers last term, with 58% of his long balls finding their intended target. The significant interest in his services suggests a strong belief that he can adapt his skills to succeed south of the border.
Options To Consider For Rangers And Souttar
Another side actively seeking renowned defenders is Watford, where their latest head coach, Alessio Dionisi, is aiming to fix the porous defense that led to mid-table mediocrity last season. So far this summer, Vicarage Road has seen more departures than arrivals, with their sole acquisition being right-back Omar Traore from sister club Udinese.
With a clear focus on strengthening their defence, the Hornets would greatly benefit from acquiring experienced British talent, immediately prepared for the physicality of Championship strikers, especially if they aim to challenge for promotion once again.
The same could be said of Cardiff City, as the Welsh side, fresh off immediately bouncing back last season under Brian Barry-Murphy, prepares to take on the Championship once more. The Bluebirds’ promotion-winning squad largely remains intact, with Ryan Wintle being the sole departure.
Their highly regarded head coach seems laser-focused, stating that despite encouraging early friendly results, his side is “nowhere near where we want to be.” Cardiff has yet to make a first-team signing this preseason, but they anticipate that changing as they aim to reestablish themselves in what appears to be a very strong Championship this season.
As the competition to secure his services intensifies, John Souttar can surely begin to prepare for his maiden spell outside of his homeland.
