Sheffield United join transfer pursuit of Rangers defender | OneFootball

Sheffield United are leading the race for John Souttar

Sheffield United are in the midst of an important summer transfer window, as the Blades look to navigate their first summer as a Championship side without parachute payments since the 2018/19 campaign.

Chris Wilder's got the tiresome job of trimming down a squad that was incredibly bloated when he made his return to the dugout for a third stint last September, while also adding enough quality to oversee an improvement this year.

The Blades' financial situation was highlighted when academy product Andre Brooks was sold to divisional rivals Norwich City for £8 million and replaced by a loan arrival in Brentford's Romelle Donovan — Sheffield United don't have the spending power they've had in recent windows.

However, that doesn't mean they're not looking to compete with fellow second-tier sides for transfers this summer, more specifically in the middle of the backline, where only Mark McGuinness and Japhet Tanganga are the natural centre-backs heading into pre-season.

Sheffield United join race for John Souttar

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Despite penning a contract extension with Rangers back in February, John Souttar is surplus to requirements at Ibrox following the appointment of former Hearts boss Derek McIness this summer.

The 29-year-old was a regular in the side under Danny Rohl last season, making 24 league appearances and wearing the captain's armband for a handful of them, but has not travelled with the squad to Spain for their warm-weather training camp, heightening the likelihood of a departure.

According to the Scottish Sun, several Championship sides are interested in bringing Souttar south of the border for the first time in his career, and Sheffield United are leading the race to do so.

Souttar has spent his entire career in Scotland, making 255 SPL appearances for Dundee United, Hearts and now Rangers. He has 24 caps for the Scottish national team, and was part of Steve Clarke's squad in the recent World Cup, albeit he was left on the bench for all three group games as the Tartan Army crashed out at the first hurdle.

He returned home unwanted by the new Gers boss, though, and may find himself heading to Sheffield, with Chris Wilder reportedly said to be a long-time admirer of the 29-year-old.

How Sheffield United fans have reacted to the John Souttar links

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There's no doubt that Sheffield United will be on the hunt for a new centre-back this summer, after Ben Mee, Tyler Bindon and Leo Hjelde all left the club at the end of last season.

Additionally, Nils Zatterstrom is unlikely to feature again after making no senior appearances in his first year at Bramall Lane before being loaned out to Genoa in January.

But, if Blades fans were told they were getting one of the Souttar brothers at centre-back this summer, they'd ideally want it to be a returning Harry, who spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan there from Leicester City before an Achilles injury on Boxing Day curtailed his season.

"Can we have his brother as well?" one Blades fan questioned on X. "Hopefully we fall behind in the race as it's the wrong brother," another said.

Harry Souttar's Achilles injury he picked up at Bramall Lane only saw him return to action in the penultimate game of the 2025/26 term at Leicester, in which he had to sit back and watch as his side were relegated to League One.

After playing every minute of Australia's run to the World Cup knockout rounds this past summer, the 27-year-old has proven he is better than the third tier, and given Sheffield United's success in the opening half of the 2024/25 campaign with him at the heart of the backline, fans are keen for a reunion.

Perhaps bringing John in could help persuade his brother to join him in the Blades defence. That may be the only way that Sheffield United fans would accept bringing the Rangers man in.