Leicester City defender Harry Souttar is now in talks to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr after Rangers were priced out of a deal last summer.
Had Mick Beale’s side not suffered a hammering by PSV Eindhoven in August’s Champions League qualifiers, would Harry Souttar be plying his trade alongside brother John at Ibrox these days?
Maybe so, Football Scotland reporting that that Rangers missing out on a seat at Europe’s top table also had a very adverse effect in their pursuit of Leicester’s 6ft 7ins, sky-scraping centre-half.
The Glasgow giants were unable to meet his ‘hefty salary demands’. That should not pose a problem for Al-Nassr, however, with the deep-pocketed, Public Investment Fund-backed club luring not only Cristiano Ronaldo but also Sadio Mane, Alex Telles, Seko Fofana, Otavio and Aymeric Laporte to Saudi Arabia.
Rangers wanted Harry Souttar from Leicester City
Reporter Rudy Galetti, writing on X, believes that Souttar could be sharing a dressing room with Ronaldo and co soon enough too. Al-Nassr are in talks, even if a deal may have to wait until Fofana – the former Lens captain – leaves on loan due to the Saudi Pro League’s foreign player limitations.
The Scotland-born Souttar has made only three Championship appearances for runaway leaders Leicester this season, totalling just 98 minutes of league action.
“It’s been a frustrating time,” Souttar told Yahoo Sports after jetting out to represent Australia in the Asian Cup.
“Even though you’re not going to be playing a lot, (you have to) do extra sessions here and there and keep yourself as top fit as best you can. I’ve worked so hard to get here, so my full concentration is on the next month and a half.”
Saudi Arabia switch on the cards
By the time the tournament ends, Souttar could be an Al-Nassr player. Leicester are unlikely to stand in his way, particularly with Foxes boss Enzo Maresca confirming that the club must first sell players to free up funds to bring in Stefano Sensi from Inter Milan.
Fashion Sakala, the former Rangers forward, is already plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, making a big impact at Al-Fayha.
