Yesterday, John Souttar was pictured in training with the rest of the Rangers squad during the public session at Ibrox.
Given that the Scotland international did not make the plane for the pre-season camp in Spain, the expectation was that he would be on his way by now.
The central defender has been linked with several clubs in England, including Leicester City and Sheffield United, but his next move is yet to be revealed.
The sighting of John Souttar on Monday is one of the first public glimpses of him under the eye of Derek McInnes, given the player’s extended rest after the World Cup.
John Souttar transfer latest
With Olwethu Makhanya on the brink of sealing a £3 million transfer from Philadelphia Union, the bigger picture remains unchanged for John Souttar.
He is still expected to leave the club soon, but until a deal is reached, he will still be training with the squad.
The 29-year-old signed a one-year extension at Ibrox earlier this year, and Rangers will be due a nominal fee for that reason.
English Championship clubs or those like Leicester City at the top end of League One won’t be dissuaded by having to agree terms with the club, but from the player’s point of view, this is a crucial move.
Why the Souttar deal is taking so long
John Souttar will be 30 in September.
This upcoming transfer is likely to be the biggest deal of the rest of his career so it’s one that he will want to get right, from a football and financial perspective.
He is likely to be looking for a two or three-year deal, with Championship wages on par with his current salary at Ibrox, if not greater.
That will depend on the overall makeup of the package agreed with Rangers.
John Souttar should have been coming into his best years at Ibrox, but unfortunately, he has failed to demonstrate the consistency of performance required.
Too often in recent years he was been found wanting, and the way he lost his place last season reflects his overall tenure at the club, and the mediocrity that has ensued since the heady days of 2021 and 2022.
The player may well benefit from a less demanding environment and hopefully, he can go on to be a big success at his next club.
That move should not be too far away.
