Souttar tipped to handle pressure of Gers move

Rangers have been heavily tipped to add John Souttar to their squad this week, the Hearts centre-half able to discuss terms on a pre-contract agreement and with it, the chance to negotiate an early release from his time at Tynecastle.

The Scotland international has, arguably, been the best defender in the Scottish Premiership this season and fully deserves the attention that he is getting from both north and south of the border.

Plenty of players in the past have moved between the two sides and one who had two stints at both clubs reckons that Souttar will be under immediate pressure to perform if he chooses to go to Ibrox, as told by former Ger Dave McPherson to The Daily Record:

“It’s a huge decision for John to make and one I’m sure he’ll take his time over.

“He has done really well this season after bouncing back from a series of injuries that a lot of players would struggle to overcome. His form has been excellent.

“Rangers’ interest isn’t a surprise. John is a modern day defender, good on the ball, can pass it from the back, has a good size about him and doesn’t get ruffled easily.

“He is a player that a lot of clubs were looking at before his injuries and I’m not surprised there’s even more now.

“He doesn’t seem to get fazed by anything on the park.

“But if you are going to step up a level from Hearts to Rangers or a club down south then the expectation is there to perform week in week out.

“He’s done that this season for Hearts but it would be another test at Ibrox if that’s where he chooses to go and it’s not easy.”

McPherson is right, it is a step up in terms of the demands but, Souttar has come through hardship throughout has career and twice fought his way back into the Scotland set up, his man of the match display against Denmark a fitting way to consign his injury troubles to the past.

It would be a different type of defending that the 25-year old would have to get used and mentality plays a huge part in being a success, as we saw earlier this season, sometimes all it takes is one mistake and it can cost you points despite having 75-80% possession on occasions.

Souttar’s injury record is well reported and the opportunity that Rangers presents including the prospect of Champions League football, he will be only too well aware of how important it is to seize the day and hopefully he seizes the opportunity to take the same trip along the M8 that McPherson made twice.