Brian Laudrup admits John Souttar repeating his opening day scoring heroics to put a dent in Celtic’s title bid before moving to Ibrox would be the “perfect” scenario for Rangers.
The Jambos defender scored the winner against the Hoops in the first league game of the season and has now penned a pre-contract with the champions.
Hearts are reportedly demanding £500,000 for the Scotland stopper to make an immediate move across the M8.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is preparing for the player to arrive in the summer but a deal could yet be struck.
Hearts face the Hoops at home in the penultimate game before the transfer window closes and then Rangers in the second game after it slams shut.
And Laudrup told the Scottish Daily Mail: “For Souttar, there will be relief in having sorted out his future beyond this season. But the here and now still has to be dealt with.
“Rangers might try and bring the move forward by agreeing a fee this window. There are clear benefits to that for them - and for Souttar - but so much of it depends on Hearts and what they might demand to make it happen.
“You’d also think it could be wise for Rangers to leave Souttar where he is until after Hearts play Celtic (January 26).
“Their perfect outcome would be for the player to leave Tynecastle on a high, having helped takes the points away from Celtic in the title race.
“If he stays, then Hearts come to Ibrox on February 6. Souttar would be the centre of attention that afternoon.”
Laudrup knows the scrutiny Souttar will be under having signed a pre-contract himself with Chelsea while at Rangers.
And he could also make a comparison if the defender runs out at Ibrox in maroon next month - and it’s not a situation Souttar would want to find himself in going by the Dane.
Laudrup said of that potential scenario: “The closest parallel I can draw from my own career was actually my very last game for Chelsea, when we travelled to meet FC Copenhagen in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
“The move hadn’t worked out and it became public knowledge I was in talks to go back to Denmark and join Copenhagen.
“That night was one of the strangest, most awkward games I ever played. Uncomfortable would be a mild word for it but I scored the goal that put Chelsea in the quarter final and then moved to Copenhagen the following week.”
On signing a pre-contract, he said: “I’ve been in the situation of having signed a pre-contract. I did it before I left Rangers in 1998.
“The difference is that I was leaving Scotland to go to Chelsea, whereas Souttar is moving just 50 miles along the motorway from Edinburgh to Glasgow.
“That brings its own complications in terms of the reaction from Hearts supporters. But, regardless of the destination, you are always placed under a new kind of scrutiny when it’s announced you are are leaving a club.
“People will examine Souttar’s remaining Hearts performances for little things. If his form dips, they will claim: ‘Oh, he’s already away to Rangers in his mind’.
“That’s a very difficult situation for a player. And a frustrating one.”
