Potential pre-contract deal in January should tempt Rangers to open door for exiled forward

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Glasgow Rangers are reportedly set to sign Jamie Walker on a pre-contract deal, so perhaps an Ibrox outcast deserves another chance.

Based on how Michael O’Halloran’s Rangers career has played out – especially since Pedro Caixinha arrived at Ibrox – it would certainly be no surprise to many supporters if it turned out that he has already played his final game for the Gers.

The forward is currently on loan at St Johnstone and has not played for the Light Blues first-team since reports emerged that he failed to turn up for an under-20s game back in April – as reported by the Evening Times.

However, his form during his time away from the club just hints that if Rangers manage to complete what already appears to a priority deal for the January transfer window, bringing the 26-year-old back into the fold may not be a bad idea.

According to a recent report from The Scottish Sun, Rangers plan to agree a pre-contract deal for Hearts winger Jamie Walker, who was on their radar throughout the summer.

Of course, that deal would mean that the 24-year-old would only arrive at Ibrox following the end of the season, so perhaps Caixinha would appreciate a short-term fix from January onward while he has so few quality wide options to pick from.

The Portuguese probably does not necessarily need a marquee addition in that area of the pitch – especially if they have Walker arriving next summer – but having someone else in the ranks who knows the Scottish Premiership well could help them out if they go into the latter half of the season with something to genuinely play for.

O’Halloran has started the campaign in sensational form, currently topping the division’s scoring charts to help St Johnstone go unbeaten in their first four league games.

So while it may be an option that may look far-fetched at this current stage, perhaps Caixinha should open the door for O’Halloran when he returns from his loan spell in January and offer him the chance to salvage his Ibrox career by bolstering their options on the wing and up front – where they also look short of numbers – knowing that if he has Walker on the way in the summer, there is little risk if the situation does not work out.