Rangers’ attempts to sign Hearts winger Jamie Walker could be blocked.
According to The Scottish Sun, Hearts will offer Jamie Walker a new contract in a desperate attempt to keep him out of Rangers’ clutches.
Edinburgh-born Walker, 24, has come up through the ranks with Hearts having joined the club way back in 2003, and he has become a key player at Tynecastle.
Andy Murdoch (L) in action with Heart of Midlothian’s Jamie Walker
The winger has now racked up more than 150 appearances for Hearts, and particularly excelled last season by scoring 15 goals in all competitions for Ian Cathro’s men.
Hearts’ big problem now is that Walker’s contract with the club expires next summer, meaning that he can walk away for nothing in 2018 unless Hearts tie him down to a new deal or sell him this summer.
As noted by The Scottish Sun, Rangers are preparing a new, third and final bid for Walker having failed with two offers already this summer – but Hearts are attempting to block their efforts once again.
The report claims that Hearts want to make Walker their highest-earning player, and have offered him a new contract to give him a huge pay rise in order to prevent Rangers from signing him.
Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong (L) and Celtic’s Mikael Lustig in action with Heart’s Jamie Walker
Whether Walker accepts the offer or not remains to be seen, but after Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha watched the wide man score in Friday’s pre-season friendly defeat to Newcastle United, the Gers will be hoping he rejects the deal.
Unless Rangers offer around £1million, they seemingly won’t be signing Walker, and reports of a new deal on the table from Hearts should jolt Rangers into life in terms of making a serious bid for Walker.
Would you like to see Walker sign for Rangers?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
