Rangers target Jamie Walker was left out of the Hearts squad to face Dunfermline on Saturday.
Hearts manager Ian Cathro has told BBC Sport that winger Jamie Walker’s focus has dropped due to speculation surrounding a possible move to Rangers.
Walker, 24, has come up through the ranks with Hearts having joined the club as a youngster, and he has now become arguably their key first-team player.
Hearts’ Jamie Walker
The winger has made over 150 appearances for Hearts, and he enjoyed his best season to date last term, notching 15 goals in 43 games in all competitions.
A former Scotland Under-21 international, Walker has been attempting to leave Hearts this summer, having so far failed to sign a new contract and indicated that he would like to move on.
Given that his contract expires in 2018, meaning that Walker could move on for free in a year’s time, but Hearts have so far been fighting to keep their prized asset by rejecting bids for him.
As reported by BBC Sport, Hearts turned down two bids from rivals Rangers in June, and it remains to be seen whether they return with yet another offer to finally sign the wide man before next month’s transfer deadline.
Rangers may have been given some hope of a deal this weekend, as Walker was completely left out of the Hearts side as they drew 2-2 at home with Dunfermline before losing 3-1 on penalties in a disastrous Scottish League Cup exit.
Now, Hearts boss Ian Cathro has told BBC Sport that Walker has been distracted by the talk of a possible move to Rangers, and having dropped his focus and his performance levels as a result, he was dropped from the squad in favour of other players – and whilst Cathro remains determine to keep Walker, his distraction may mean that a move to Rangers is still on the table.
Heart of Midlothian manager Ian Cathro
“Jamie’s been under a lot of attention, a lot of speculation all linking him to one particular club,” said Cathro. “We’ll support him but everyone has to do the right things and respond properly. It’s been quite a difficult situation for him, which I think at first, he’s managed to deal with well and of course we’ll support him. I love his talent, I love the way that he plays but I would say just now it’s just starting to affect his focus and his performance levels with us a little bit.”
“So, naturally, in situations like that there are some players who are more deserving of being with us today and they’re more deserving of their starting place in the team. Jamie’s a Hearts player, an incredibly talented one, one I enjoy working with and he just has to respond correctly and work his way back into the team. There’s just been a drop-off, a little drop off in his performance levels and his focus, which just takes us below the level that he needs to be at – like everyone, like all of his team-mates need to be at in order to be part of our team,” he added.
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