Rangers stalwart gets transfer endorsement as James Tavernier backed to help club end 18-year exile

Rangers defender John Souttar has been backed to be a success in the EFL Championship as he edges closer to the Ibrox exit door.

Souttar, 29, looks set to bring down the curtain on his four-year stay at Rangers after being omitted from the team’s squad for their pre-season camp in Spain last week, with head coach Derek McInnes prepared to allow the Scotland international to depart Ibrox as part of his summer rebuild.

He agreed to a one-year contract extension as recently as February, but found himself out of the Rangers starting XI shortly afterwards and, despite being included in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, didn’t play a single minute at the World Cup in North America this summer.

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Souttar has been linked with a move to the EFL Championship this summer. | SNS Group

Sheffield United have been touted as favourites to land him, but face competition from EFL League One Leicester City, now managed by former Rangers boss Russell Martin. However, ex-Foxes striker Kevin Phillips believes he’s likely to opt for a move to the Blades this summer, and thinks he has all the tools to succeed at Bramall Lane this coming season.

“There’s always that slight concern, isn’t there, with players coming from Scotland?” said Phillips. “The Scottish League, people do kind of compare it to the EFL Championship, the types of games that you play. Listen, I think he could do a job there for sure. He’s very experienced. He’s played a lot of football, he’s six foot one, so he’s not a small lad. I think he can handle himself.

“I think if you’re getting linked, Sheffield United have clearly done a bit of homework. They believe that he could handle the Championship, so there’s always that slight concern, but I think having played where he has, I think the Championship, he would suit it, no problem whatsoever. So if they were to secure him, I think it could be one of those signings that could be a decent signing at the end of the day.”

The ex-Sunderland man has also urged his former club, Derby County, to shore up their interest in former Rangers captain, and current free agent, James Tavernier. The 34-year-old exited Rangers after 11 seasons in May, but has yet to confirm his next destination, with the Rams thought to be considering a move to bring him to Pride Park.

James Tavernier is a free agent after leaving Rangers in May following an 11-year stay with the club. | SNS Group

Phillips, who spent almost three years as assistant manager at Derby, believes a move for Tavernier could help his former side push for a promotion back to the English Premier League after an 18-year exile.

“I think Tavernier would be a great signing,” Phillips told BestBettingSites.co.uk. “I know he’s 34 years of age, but he looks after himself, he had a fantastic career up at Rangers, and the biggest thing that stands out is that he scored over 150 goals in his career as a fullback, which is astonishing.

“Potentially pairing him with Ben Brereton-Diaz, if he signs, down that right-hand side, there’s going to be a supply line, there’s going to be goals. I think Derby, that could be one of those teams that could really surprise people this season if they were to secure the services of James with the backing, the investment. I think they could really challenge next season. So yeah, I think it’d be a fantastic signing for Derby, for sure.”