Leicester City star Harry Souttar is being linked to numerous Championship clubs, with newly relegated West Ham United the latest to join the chase for the towering Australian.
The 27-year-old will be hopeful for regular game time after an injury-hit couple of seasons, with West Ham now battling Sheffield United, Wrexham and former club Stoke City for his signature.
Back To Full Fitness
Initially coming through at Dundee United and breaking through from the development set-up, Souttar quickly caught the eye with a couple of early goals for the first team. That form brought Premier League interest, and Stoke City eventually won the race for his signature, paying an initial fee of around £200,000.
Spells with Ross County and Fleetwood Town gave him more experience, and it was at Fleetwood where he really made his name, earning the EFL Young Player of the Month award and a reputation as one of the brightest young defenders in the lower leagues.
A strong return to Stoke saw him become a key figure, leading to a big move to Leicester City in a deal reported to be worth £15 million, rising to £20 million with add-ons.
Following Leicester’s relegation to the Championship last season, Souttar would have hoped to play a major role in a quick revival. Instead, it turned into a miserable spell for both club and player, with the defender managing just 26 league appearances across three seasons at Leicester, plus a loan at Sheffield United that was cut short by injury.
However, he is now coming back off an impressive World Cup with Australia, where the Socceroos got out of their group and into the knockouts before losing to Egypt on penalties in the round of 32.
Souttar played a huge part in that run and is now hoping that, if he can stay fit, he can recapture some of the form that has seen him rise through the ranks as West Ham enter the fold to try to sign him, in a move exclusively revealed by the Daily Record.
Looking To Bounce Back
It has been a disastrous few seasons for Leicester City, suffering successive relegations from the Premier League to League One just ten years after their title-winning campaign, amid financial mismanagement and poor on‑field performances. The Foxes will be hoping to use relegation as a platform for a reset to get back to the highs of recent seasons.
Mirroring that decline, West Ham have endured a highly disappointing season, leading to relegation to the Championship for the first time in nearly 15 years. However, the club is clinging to the hope that the presence of star forward Jarrod Bowen and manager Nuno Espírito Santo will ensure this is merely a one‑off setback as they look to rebuild and return stronger.
