OPINION
If Rangers ever want to return to the top of Scottish football, they have two hurdles standing in their way – Aberdeen and Celtic.
The two clubs finished ahead of the Light Blues last season and while Steven Gerrard will have his sights set firmly on his side’s Glasgow rivals, they also have to overcome the Dons along the way.
Now, the only way to better their top flight opponents is to improve on the pitch, which means outsmarting them tactically or technically – the Gers lacking the ability to do either when it came to their meetings during the last campaign.
Things certainly look to have taken a turn for the better at Ibrox this summer, with Steven Gerrard instilling a new sense of confidence into the entire club, not to mention his complete overhaul of the playing squad with some quality new signings.
However, when a report states that both Celtic and Abderdeen managers are impressed with a young talent, the ears of Gerrard and his transfer team must prick up and a potential swoop analysed.
That is the case with Hearts defender John Souttar, who looks to be one of Scotland’s future stars after making his international debut against Belgium last week before starring in the 2-0 win over Albania.
Dissecting the display, the Daily Record have claimed that both Derek McInnes and Brendan Rodgers have been left impressed with the 21-year-old’s performances for both club and country, and if they like what they see, it more often than not means a transfer swoop is on its way.
However, while the Gers might have brought in no less than four new centre backs – including free agent Gareth McAuley – Gerrard needs to beat both of his managerial rivals to the capture of the hot prospect, who looks destined for the top.
Rangers had just one player in the Scotland starting XI against Albania – Allan McGregor – but with the capture of Souttar, they would have another for years to come, not to mention a quality talent at the heart of the defence at Ibrox.