Blades join the race for hot property Souttar

RANGERS face confirmed competition from Sheffield United in their pursuit of Hearts star John Souttar. And Sportsmail understands that the English Championship club are willing to outbid Scotland’s champions when it comes to personal terms for the 25-year-old centre-back. Hearts are now resigned to losing the Scotland international when his contract expires at the end of the current season. Already free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club,

Souttar is expected to make a decision about his future within the coming weeks. And Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom upped the ante yesterday by publicly declaring his interest in recruiting the Tynecastle favourite. ‘We would be foolish not to have a look at him, he’s a free transfer in the summer,’ said former Hibs head coach Heckingbottom. ‘I am not going to say if we are going to do it — but he’s certainly someone we have looked at. ‘I know him from my time in Scotland, he’s a good player. He’s one of a few that we have been looking at. We highlighted positions we need players in and he’s one in that position.’ Despite reports yesterday suggesting Stoke City had backed away from a deal that would see Souttar (pictured) team up with brother Harry, the former Dundee United star is on the radar of at least half a dozen clubs on both sides of the border, with Blackburn Rovers among those who have also scouted the ball-playing central defender.

The prospect of joining Rangers definitely holds some appeal for a player who understands that, if he were to do well at Ibrox, he might then jump straight to a Premier League club. But the money being offered by bigger Championship sides is believed to trump the terms put forward, at least so far, by Rangers. Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst is still keen to get a deal done for Vitesse Arnhem centre-half Danilho Doekhi. The 23-year-old is seen as a potential successor to Connor Goldson, who is out of contract this summer.