Norwich City, Middlesbrough & Sheffield United should be on alert as Rangers make player decision | OneFootball

John Souttar has been made available on the transfer market and these three Championship sides must pounce

It is set to be a fiercely competitive Championship season with the likes of West Ham, Wolves, Burnley, Middlesbrough, Southampton and more in the mix for promotion.

All 24 clubs will be going into the campaign expecting big things, particularly with the play-offs expanding to include an additional two teams, so now the top eight can contend for a place in the Premier League.

But before the campaign even gets underway, these teams are battling hard for signings, competing to strengthen their squads.

One player that has emerged as a target for clubs in England is John Souttar, with Football Insider reporting that the defender is being made available on the market by Rangers.

The centre-back made 24 league appearances under Danny Rohl last season, but is now surplus to requirements following Derek McInnes’ appointment.

Here we look at three Championship clubs that should target a move for the 29-year-old this summer.

Middlesbrough

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The departures of Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan have opened up space in Kim Hellberg’s squad for a defensive addition.

Middlesbrough, particularly if he could be available at a cut rate price due to being out of favour under McInnes.

Fry made the most appearances of any centre-back at the club in the Championship last season, so will need to be replaced.

Given he departed as a free agent, being able to bring in Souttar at a relatively reasonable price could be a smart move.

The 29-year-old’s left-footedness could also make him a useful asset at the back, as that is something the team is currently missing.

Norwich City

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A reunion with Philippe Clement at Carrow Road is an obvious option for Souttar amid speculation over his Rangers future.

The pair worked well together at Ibrox before the Belgian was with the Canaries, and bringing him to the club could be a smart way to reinforce their defensive options.

While Norwich have players like José Córdoba, Ruairi McConville and Harry Darling to choose from, having Souttar in the squad could add some extra competition for places at centre-back.

If the defender is going to be available at a reasonable price, then he could be a smart option given his experience and knowledge of how Clement works.

And his impressive ability to hit accurate long balls could prove quite useful in the Championship, as he hit 3.8 per 90 last season, with an impressive success rate of 58 percent.

Sheffield United

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Sheffield United are in need of defensive reinforcements this summer, as they have been left with just Mark McGuinness and Japhet Tanganga as natural centre-back options in their first team squad.

Souttar could be an obvious option for Wilder, particularly as their financial position isn’t as strong this summer without parachute payments.

The 29-year-old has plenty of top-level experience, and has the leadership qualities that the Sheffield United boss will appreciate.

Souttar should also be suited to Wilder’s style of play, as he can get forward with the ball, but he is still strong defensively and is solid in the air.