As per reports from The Scottish Sun, EFL Championship outfit Wigan Athletic are plotting a January swoop for Heart of Midlothian defender John Souttar.
The Latics reportedly tried to sign the 22-year-old centre-back in the summer transfer window but failed to do so back then. As a result, they want to give it another go in the upcoming window. (h/t The Scottish Sun)
A graduate of the Dundee United academy, Souttar went on to make 73 first-team appearances before securing a move away to Hearts back in 2016. The Scotsman soon established himself as a mainstay in the backline for the Jambos and has racked up 93 appearances, scoring a solitary goal and setting up three for his teammates.
Souttar was one of the best young centre-backs in Scotland last season as Hearts finished sixth in the Premiership, winning the Hearts’ Young Player of the Season award. And he has carried on from where left off this time out.
So far in the 2018/19 campaign, the 22-year-old defender has made 14 appearances – 8 in the Premiership and 6 in the League Cup – and has been instrumental in Craig Levein’s side’s surge to the top of the table.
Souttar has been a part of a defence that has conceded just six goals in eight league games this term – the third-best record in the Scottish top-flight this term behind reigning champions Celtic (4) and newly-promoted club Livingston FC (5).
On the back of his impressive displays for the Scottish Premiership table-toppers, Souttar managed to break into the Scotland national team, making his international bow in September in the 4-0 defeat to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League. He started the subsequent match against Albania, helping his team to a clean sheet as the Scots won 2-0.
Wigan, upon their promotion back to Championship, find themselves 12th in the table after 12 games. The Latics have shipped in 16 goals already this term – marking the sixth-worst defensive record in the English second division.
Manager Paul Cook did sign Cedric Kipre in the summer to join up with the existing contingent of Alex Bruce, Chey Dunkley and Dan Burns. However, Burns and Bruce have each made just single appearances this term. The former will be leaving for Brighton & Hove Albion in January, having signed for the Seagulls in the summer. Meanwhile, Bruce’s contract will expire at the end of the season.
Hence, a defensive reinforcement in January is a must for the Latics. And Souttar would fit the bill perfectly. Standing at a towering 1.86m, the Scotland international cuts an imposing presence at the back and has the physical attributes needed to succeed in England.
Despite his tender age, the centre-back has demonstrated great leadership abilities and has been handed the captain’s armband by Hearts’ manager Levein in a number of matches this term. Wigan must certainly go all out to land the Scotsman in the winter window.
