Rangers-linked winger Jamie Walker was wanted by Derby County last year but has been far from his best in recent weeks.
As Jamie Walker rightly points out, Rangers are not the be all and end all. The Hearts winger was locked in speculation around a move to Ibrox throughout the summer transfer window but Pedro Caixinha’s side would not increase their bid from £600,000 – falling some way short of the Edinburgh club’s £1 million asking price, per the Daily Record.
Walker is now a free agent at the end of the season, giving him the freedom to decide his own future. And with the oft-mooted Rangers switch stalling all through the last transfer window, the 24-year-old no longer has his heart set purely on a move to Ibrox.
“I’ve got seven months left on my contract and it’s up to me to play well and maybe get an even bigger move,” Walker, who scored a career-best 15 goals last season, told the Daily Record.
“[Rangers is] a massive club and if [a move in January] doesn’t happen, I can still go on to bigger and better things. Rangers aren’t the be-all and end-all. It’s up to me to show what I can do and maybe get something better.
“In January I might have a few offers. I’ll be a free agent and if I’m playing well enough, there might be a decision to be made.”
‘Not the be-all and end-all’
Whether Walker would view a move to Championship side Derby County as a ‘bigger’ opportunity than Rangers is up for debate. The winger is right in stating that he needs to find his form, however, before he can encourage clubs to renew their interest.
The Derby Telegraph reported that The Rams were tracking Walker’s progress last year and, considering that they have hit the net just 13 times in 10 league appearances in 2017/18, could do with the creativity and goal threat that the 24-year-old provides at his best.
Though Walker’s current displays are far removed from his excellent performances last season. He has failed to score, or produce an assist, in his first nine games of the season.
Walker will need to rediscover his form and fast, then, if he wants to ensure he has a number of offers to choose from in January.
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