Souttar joined the Foxes from Stoke City last January for a fee of £15 million last January, and he made 12 appearances as the club were relegated from the Premier League last season.
However, Souttar fell out of favour following the appointment of Enzo Maresca, and he has made just four appearances in all competitions this season, with the likes of Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady preferred ahead of him.
The 25-year-old is currently away on Asia Cup duty with Australia, but he could be set to move on this month, with Leicester said to be open to offers, according to The Athletic, via the Daily Record (07/01, 6:52pm).
Souttar attracted interest from Scottish Premiership side Rangers in the summer, but a move did not materalise, and he said in September that he was keen to fight for his place at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester currently sit top of the Championship table, ten points clear of second-placed Ipswich Town and 13 points clear of third-placed Southampton.
| Championship Table (As it stands January 8th) |
|
Team |
P |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Leicester City |
26 |
36 |
65 |
| 2 |
Ipswich Town |
26 |
15 |
55 |
| 3 |
Southampton |
26 |
15 |
52 |
| 4 |
Leeds United |
26 |
20 |
48 |
| 5 |
West Brom |
26 |
12 |
42 |
| 6 |
Sunderland |
26 |
8 |
40 |
| 7 |
Hull City |
26 |
4 |
39 |
| 8 |
Coventry City |
26 |
10 |
37 |
Palmer: Souttar will have plenty of interest
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said that Leicester are right to allow Souttar to depart, but he has doubts over whether Championship clubs could afford him.
“Leicester City are ready to listen to offers for Australian centre-back Harry Souttar,” Palmer said.
“Souttar said in the summer that he would stay and fight for his place and he has tried, but he can’t force his way into the side.
“Maresca signed Conor Coady and Callum Doyle, and has used Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard in defensive positions, limiting Souttar to just four appearances in all competitions this season and very little minutes.
“A player of Souttar’s ability cannot be sitting on the bench at this level.
“He can operate, as we’ve seen, at international level, so he is a more than capable player at Championship level.
“It would be easy for Leicester to keep him in case he is needed to see them over the line for promotion.
“Leicester are 10 points clear of Ipswich in second and almost certainties to get automatic promotion, so morally it would be the right decision to let the player move on as he clearly does not figure in the forefront of the manager’s mind.
“There will be no shortage of offers, Rangers were very keen to sign him when Mick Beale was manager, but the problem for Championship clubs is who can afford his fee or his salary?
“So unless he goes to a European club, the most realistic outcome would be a loan move.”
What next for Harry Souttar?
It has been tough for Souttar since his move to the King Power Stadium last January.
As Palmer says, it is clear that Souttar is not in Maresca’s plans, and his departure this month would be the right decision for all parties.
Souttar has been a consistent performer for Australia at international level, and he starred for Stoke in the Championship prior to his move to Leicester, so he should attract interest.
Finances could be a stumbling block to any potential deal, but Souttar would be an excellent signing for any second tier side.
