For Hearts supporters, the one downside to John Souttar’s return last summer from the latest in a series of serious injuries was that if he rediscovered the type of form everyone knew he had in him, he wouldn’t be hanging around at Tynecastle very long. The 25-year-old is out of contract in the summer and the vultures are indeed circling. Rangers, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers are all interested in signing the defender. The outcome may be known before the week is out.
Souttar played just five games last season but has been a regular for Hearts this time round. The centre back has made 22 appearances and contributed strongly to Robbie Neilson’s side starting the season so well. They sit third in the Premiership, five points ahead of Motherwell.
A quick recap of Souttar’s tribulations: early in 2017 it was an achilles tendon rupture; in 2018 a hip injury; in 2019 an ankle issue; in 2020 another damaged achilles and then just two months after recovering, the same injury yet again.
Souttar’s resurgence was capped when he scored the opener for Scotland in the win over Denmark in November. He will now almost certainly be a part of Steve Clarke’s plans for the World Cup play-offs in March and that itself raises his stock. His is a true feelgood story but Hearts could lose the player for free and they face a dilemma this month.
While it looks almost certain that Souttar’s future beyond the summer will not be in Edinburgh, it is unclear whether he will spend the second half of the campaign at the club he joined in 2016, or elsewhere. Should Hearts receive an appropriate bid, do they allow Souttar to go this month and weaken themselves for the second half of the campaign? Or do they keep him and hope that having him helps them to achieve their goals?
They have a keen eye on a replacement in former Kilmarnock man Stuart Findlay who is now plying his trade in Major League Soccer with Philadelphia Union.
There is a lot at stake for Hearts. They are third in the table and the winners of the Scottish Cup will go into the Europa League play-off round, which guarantees group-stage action in either the second-tier competition or the Conference League should they lose that play-off. If the winners of the Scottish Cup finish in the Premiership’s top two, the team that finishes third would be the ones who go into the Europa League play-off round.
Hearts have not played group stage European football since the 2004-05 Uefa Cup. They did reach the first round of that competition in the 2006-07 campaign — they were beaten over two legs by Sparta Prague — but that was effectively a play-off round for the group stage. Reaching the group stage of the Conference League would secure upwards of £4 million of prize money and would dwarf any fee that Hearts could receive for Souttar this month. Winning the Scottish Cup will be an aim for Hearts, but they are well positioned when it comes to an insurance policy for securing continental action next season.
Then there are the quandaries that Souttar himself faces. Does he head south or along the M8 to Govan?
Blackburn are third in the Championship, having stormed into title contention with a rich vein of form. Tony Mowbray’s side have lost only one of their past 12 league matches and should Souttar move to Ewood Park, he may just be five months away from playing in the Premier League. It is a prospect that would appeal to most players in Scotland: swapping the usual trips to Pittodrie, Tannadice and the plastic pitch at Livingston for the glamour of Anfield, the Etihad and the Emirates.
Sheffield United’s interest is confirmed, with manager Paul Heckingbottom admitting as much last night. The Yorkshire club are 13th in the table in what has been a bruising campaign in England’s second tier after relegation from the Premier League but they are ambitious for a return to the top division next season.
“We would be foolish not to have a look at him because of the type of player he is, the position he finds himself in, in terms of coming to the end of his contract, the fact he can be a free transfer in the summer, so yeah, we would be foolish not to have a look,” Heckingbottom said.
“I don’t know if that is because of John’s contract situation or the fact I know him from my time in Scotland as well. He’s a good player and he is going to be sought after I would have thought.”
Souttar has been south to visit both Sheffield United and Blackburn and it was previously thought that his preferred destination would be in England.
That was before Rangers firmed up their interest.The Scottish champions are having to contend with a Bosman situation of their own in defence, with Connor Goldson’s deal set to expire in the summer. Were he to leave, Souttar would be an apt replacement, but, even if Goldson were to remain in Glasgow, the addition of Souttar would further strengthen Rangers’ defensive options.
Whether Hearts would sell their main centre back to a domestic rival midway through the season remains to be seen, but the Tynecastle club must now surely be preparing for life without Souttar. The former Dundee United man has battled back from several injuries to earn this healthy predicament where he has suitors to choose from. He has now reached the stage where a decision must be made.
