Hearts want £1m for Jamie Walker but, so far, Rangers have been unwilling to meet the demands of their Scottish Premiership rivals.
After three bids and weeks of speculation, Rangers appear no closer to landing Hearts winger Jamie Walker.
The Scottish Sun reports that the Edinburgh side are offering the 24-year-old a bumper new deal to make him the highest paid player at Tannadyce to ward off interest from Rangers, while making clear that he will not be sold unless their £1 million valuation is met.
So far, the Daily Mail reports that The Gers have offered just £600,000 for a proven Scottish Premiership star who netted 15 goals in all competitions last season. Though money doesn’t exactly grow on trees at Ibrox, it appears a little strange that Rangers would not meet Hearts’ demands for a player who would surely represent an immediate improvement on the club’s current first-team options.
Walker enjoyed the most prolific season of his career
And when you consider that they were more than happy to spend £1.5 million (Daily Record) on a striker who has never played a minute of domestic football outside of South and Northern America, you could forgive Rangers supporters for questioning manager Pedro Caixinha’s recruitment tactics.
Risky business
After all, while Walker has shown his class in the top flight and is available on a relative bargain fee, Mexican international striker Eduardo Herrera is completely unproven on British shores.
Though Caixinha knows him well, working together at Santos Laguna in 2013/14, Herrera arrives at Ibrox having scored just five goals all season for Pumas UNAM.
Walker, a winger, had a far more prolific season and is available for £500,000 less. Herrera may be a roaring success at Rangers but, as things stand, Caixinha’s refusal to meet Hearts’ asking price seems an odd move.
The Scottish Sun adds that Rangers will make a fourth offer – and it appears they are heading towards ‘last chance saloon’ territory.
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