In case it escaped your attention, John Souttar remains a Rangers player. His current plight was damned by exclusion from the Scotland squad. And there’s been a BIG John Souttar claim.
Supposed to securing his switch to Aris Thessaloniki, the deal to the Greeks has hit a significant snag. Ibrox Noise has learned of what it’s alleged to be:
Souttar wants a payoff amid claim.
Despite it being a transfer, the (former) Scotland international is alleged to be demanding a payoff from Rangers as ‘mutual consent’ so he can make a free agency switch to Greece with a hefty cheque in his pocket as well.
Rangers are not agreeing to this, at all, and are currently in limbo paying Souttar. He would otherwise sit in the ‘reserves’.
He’d train with Rangers but never play.
Ibrox Noise has explained the motivation of what led to all this. The situation is hardly ideal for the club.
Derek McInnes stated in a recent presser that if this transfer doesn’t take place Rangers will honour the contract. Souttar ‘will come back into things’.
He won’t.
His bridges with the board have been entirely burned, and the board do not want this player in Govan any longer.
It’s pettiness on all sides here, Souttar over his break down with ex-boss Rohl, the board for ‘falling out with him’ over that very breakdown.
And Souttar wants free agency from Rangers, he’s done with the club, and the board are done with him.
A total breakdown.
Unless Rangers pay him off and give him mutual consent, he will remain at the club, picking up around £22K pw until the end of his recently-renewed contract.
It’s one hell of a mess amid the John Souttar claim, and the club may just have to swallow its pride and give him what he wants.
Because Souttar isn’t going to play for Rangers ever again and we need the wage off the payroll.