Rangers defender John Souttar’s transfer to Aris Thessaloniki is on the brink of collapse following a financial dispute over his contract buyout.
The 29-year-old requested a six-figure severance package before moving, but the Ibrox board are unwilling to pay the remaining value of his deal. The Greek transfer window closes on Tuesday, leaving limited time to finalise an agreement.
Financial Dispute Halts Greek Move
An Aris spokesman told the Daily Record: “While we had found everything, the footballer has financial issues with Rangers.”
The spokesman added: “After negotiations, they did not find an agreement in the end, so everything indicates that he will remain with the Scottish team.”
While the agreed transfer framework initially suited the board, the ensuing late negotiation breakdown creates a dilemma for Derek McInnes. The manager has previously deemed the Scotland international surplus to requirements.
McInnes Faces Defensive Depth Decision
However, retaining the centre-back could inadvertently safeguard Rangers against a mid-season injury crisis. The squad currently relies on Emmanuel Fernandez, Olwethu Makhanya, and Ben Godfrey as their primary central options.
According to Ibrox News, Souttar wants a “significant” sum to facilitate his exit. If a compromise is not reached before the deadline, Rangers face the financial trade-off of paying his wages as a reserve player versus entering the domestic campaign with minimal defensive cover.
“At the same time, a final effort is being made to overturn the facts,” the Aris spokesman confirmed to the Glasgow Times.
