There has been much speculation over the future of Hearts winger Jamie Walker over the last few months as reports continue to link him with a move to Ibrox before the transfer window closes but will the 24-year-old head along the M8 in the next few weeks or will Rangers need to wait until January to secure his signature on a Bosman?
Interim Hearts boss Jon Daly confirmed earlier today that Walker wouldn’t play any part in Hearts’ trip to Parkhead to face Celtic after apparently having ‘his head turned’ by speculation he is Ibrox-bound. Daly’s predecessor Ian Cathro also left Walker out of the Jambos’ Betfred Cup defeat at the hands of Championship Dunfermline last week and it looks as though the winger may have played his last game for Hearts.
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to face Celtic, Daly said: “A club have made an offer for him – it’s kind of turned his head a bit. He is mentally not in the right place. We need everybody on board at the minute and everyone in the right place mentally and pulling in the same direction.
“Jamie is a little bit off where he needs to be, fitness-wise, in terms of mentality. The conversation I had with him was that we will leave him out this weekend with a view to hopefully giving him a few days to try and get his head right.
“And hopefully, if I’m still in charge next week and he’s still here, getting him back involved next week because Jamie has to understand that Rangers is one club.
“There’s a million and one other clubs in the world that would love Jamie Walker. If I was manager of another club I would sign Jamie Walker for £1million no problem because on his day he’s the best at the club.”
Rangers have made two bids for Walker, both of which have been rejected by Hearts, but it appears Rangers will get their man ahead of the window closing at midnight on August 31st. Pedro Caixnha has made little secret of his interest in Walker as he looks to add to his squad ahead of a title challenge and fans seem excited by the possible signing of one of the best Scottish talents in the SPFL.
Walker has already told Hearts he won't be renewing his contract, which expires at the end of the season, so it may force the Edinburgh side's hand the closer it gets to the window closing as they run the risk of losing him for nothing in less than 12 months.
Despite publicly insisting they want nothing less than £1m for Walker, the League Cup exit at the group stages, dismissal of Ian Cathro and apparent inability of Walker to take to the field in maroon at the minute it looks as though it’s a matter of when, not if, Rangers parade him as their latest summer signing.
Poll
Will Jamie Walker be a Rangers player on September 1st?