As reported by the Glasgow Times, Aris Thessaloniki intend to revive their interest in John Souttar once the transfer market opens on January 2.
The Greek Super League outfit, who sit fifth in the standings, retain their interest in the Rangers central defender following the dramatic collapse of a seemingly complete agreement in September.
Souttar, 30, had agreed a three-year contract with Aris, and Rangers had reportedly accepted a fee of around £1m. The sticking point was his exit settlement. He wanted the final year of his Ibrox deal covered, while Rangers reportedly offered less.
When the Greek window closed, an Aris representative pointed to financial disagreements with Rangers, though media outlets in Greece indicate the club’s pursuit remains active despite the setback.
The Aberdeen-born defender has made 132 appearances since arriving from Hearts in January 2022. Possessing a left foot, composure in possession and the ability to carry the ball forward from the backline, his journey has nonetheless been disrupted by fitness issues, most notably three separate Achilles tendon tears.
That history has shaped how much trust he receives over a full season. He is now fifth in McInnes’s pecking order, sitting behind Emmanuel Fernandez and summer signings Ben Godfrey, Ross McCrorie and Olwethu Makhanya.
He also missed out on Sebastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad. Although McInnes said that Rangers would respect the player’s deal if a departure failed to materialize, a squad that is unbeaten in 12 outings and sits four points adrift of Celtic with a match in hand can ill afford to carry a centre-back who sits outside the primary plans.
| Metric / Detail | John Souttar Status |
|---|---|
| Current Club | Rangers |
| Age & Birthplace | 30, Aberdeen |
| Ibrox Appearances | 132 matches (since January 2022) |
| Current Standing | Fifth-choice centre-back |
| Interested Club | Aris Thessaloniki (Greek Super League) |
Aris hold the stronger hand because Souttar’s contract expires next summer. Waiting six months means he arrives free, which should end any hope of a meaningful fee for Rangers. The Ibrox club would be better advised to split the settlement than repeat the September standoff.
The case for keeping him is injury cover, which remains important given his record. Nevertheless, with McInnes unlikely to rely on or deploy a wantaway fifth-choice central defender who has fallen out of the national team picture, that depth offers little practical value.
With four individuals already ahead of him in the pecking order, maintaining a harmonious squad for a championship challenge means avoiding the presence of an unhappy player. Clearing his wages also gives Rangers a cleaner squad list for the second half of the season.
“financial issues with Rangers,” an Aris spokesman said when the Greek window shut regarding the breakdown of the initial transfer.
Let him go, and spend the savings on depth that McInnes will actually play.
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