Rangers are set to ramp up negotiations with top target John Souttar this week – and could land the Hearts star NOW.
The Ibrox club are keen to tie up the Scotland centre-back on a pre-contract agreement.
But MailSport understands that if Souttar decides to snub offers from a host of English clubs in favour of going to Ibrox, he wants it done in the January transfer window.
That would mean Rangers stumping up a suitable fee to prise him away from Tynecastle, where he still has six months remaining on his contract.
But Hearts gaffer Robbie Neilson is determined to keep star man Souttar for the remainder of the Premiership season – irrespective of whether he agrees a deal elsewhere.
Representatives for Souttar are currently weighing up concrete interest from English Championship clubs, including Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke, Swansea, Cardiff and Nottingham Forest.
But Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Rangers are at the head of the queue.
And they will continue discussions with the 25-year-old this week in a bid to snap him up.
