Rangers stalwart edges towards Ibrox exit door as Derek McInnes begins summer clearout

Rangers are ready to let John Souttar leave this club this summer, with transfer interest building in the Scotland international ahead of the new campaign.

According to a report from The Rangers Review, the 29-year-old centre-back has been omitted from the team’s squad for their pre-season camp in Spain, with new head coach Derek McInnes ready to sanction his departure from Ibrox.

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Souttar looks likely to depart Rangers this summer, with the defender not part of Derek McInnes' plans for the new season. | Getty Images

Souttar agreed to a one-year contract extension in February, but struggled for regular game time in the latter part of the campaign as his form faltered. The long-serving defender was also part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the World Cup this summer, but didn’t play a single minute at the tournament.

And now it appears that the former Hearts man is ready to bring down the curtain on his four-year stay at the club, with clubs in England ready to make a move for his signature. It is understood that, despite the loan arrival of Atalanta centre-back Ben Godfrey, the club wants to add further numbers in defence, which opens the door for Souttar to exit.

McInnes has overseen a busy summer transfer window so far, recruiting six new signings alongside Godfrey, with Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland both joining him from Hearts, while ex-Sunderland captain Dan Neil, Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and former academy product Ross McCrorie have all signed on ahead of the new season.

Departing alongside Souttar will be forgotten striker Danilo, who has also been left out of the club’s pre-season training camp amid interest in his services from clubs in the Eredivisie and the Greek Super League. The 27-year-old is well down the pecking order at Rangers following the signings of Shankland and Ryan Naderi in recent months, and spent the second half of last season on loan to NEC Nijmegen. Viewed as surplus to requirements, he will be allowed to leave.

Danilo spent the second half of last season on loan to NEC Nijmegen. | ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Rangers are in Spain to ramp up their pre-season preparations after previous plans under former head coach Danny Rohl to head to Austria were changed. Scotland internationals Findlay Curtis, Liam Kelly and Shankland are all expected to be part of the group after they were afforded a longer rest following their participation in the World Cup.

They’ll then return to Glasgow to take on French side St Etienne at Ibrox on Wednesday, July 22, before they welcome second-tier English side West Ham United on Sunday, July 26.