SAD DEPARTURE;Philip Clement announces the departure of Ben Davies few minutes ago

Rangers are set to hand John Souttar a new contract after Ben Davies headed off to Birmingham on loan.

Record Sport Scotland international Souttar is in talks over a new deal and an agreement is close over a long-term tie-up. His current contract is up in the summer of 2026 but that will be extended on improved terms. The 27-year-old has been a key performer under Philippe Clement, who is keen to avoid a repeat of this summer when players such as John Lundstram and Borna Barasic left on frees.

Gers’ Belgian boss has been told he needs to get shot of a string of high-earners before he can look to bring in new recruits. And with the clock ticking down to Friday night’s transfer deadline, he’s ramped up the process of freeing funds by green-lighting Davies’ season-long switch to St Andrews. Record Sport broke the news on Friday the Englishman was being lined up for a move to the Midlands, with the deal including an option to buy next summer.

He was allowed to skip Saturday’s 6-0 win over Ross County as he travelled south for talks with Blues boss Chris Davis. The former Preston defender joined Gers at a cost of £3million in the summer of 2022 after he was recommended to then Ibrox gaffer Gio van Bronckhorst by former sporting director Ross Wilson.

But Davies never fully convinced in a Rangers jersey and the 29-year-old now departs for League One having registered one goal in 59 appearances. With Davies farmed out on loan, Clement will now turn his attention to removing fellow outcasts Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell from the wage bill.

Hagi is attracting attention back in his homeland, with Rapid Bucharest and Universitatea Craiova interested in a move for the Romanian star. But the 25-year-old will have to agree a massive cut to his Rangers wages if he’s to clinch a move home.