As Harry Souttar becomes the latest name to be attached to Rangers in the transfer matrix, it comes just days after the Leicester City star was being linked to Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Michael Beale appeared to shoot down the suggestion that Rangers were set to move for the 24-year-old Australian international centre-back, who is the brother of Ibrox defender John Souttar.
The Rangers manager branded the links between Rangers and Harry Souttar as “lazy” given the player’s family connection to Ibrox and the fact that he’s a staunch bluenose.
Given that Leicester City paid a reported £15m to sign the centre-back from Stoke City in January this year, the Rangers links concern a potential loan move to Ibrox.
But Rangers aren’t the only side being linked with a move for the defender as ex-Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers and Old Firm rivals Celtic are mentioned.
Rangers & Celtic both linked to Harry Souttar
The Daily Record were touting the 24-year-old centre-back for a move to Parkhead only a few days before all that Rangers chatter was directed at Michael Beale.
This comes with Celtic having just sold Swedish international stopper Carl Starfelt to Celta Vigo and having USA international Cameron Carter-Vickers on the sidelines.
But even if Harry Souttar has previous links to Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, we’re not convinced that pull would be strong enough to pip Rangers in a potential transfer battle.
Not only does the big Aussie stopper from Aberdeen bleed blue, but with his brother John turning out for Rangers there’s about as much chance of the Old Firm splitting these siblings as there is Harry Souttar switching his allegiances.
Michael Beale might have suggested that those reports of Rangers interest in Harry Souttar aren’t founded in reality, but if the club was genuinely going head to head against Celtic in the hunt for the defender, there’s only one winner.
Blood, as they say, is thicker than water.
