Rangers are still expected to land Jamie Walker, but now have to wait until 2018.
According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are expected to tie up a pre-contract agreement with Hearts winger Jamie Walker in January, having missed out on his signature on deadline day.
The Gers snapped up 11 new signings over the course of the summer, with Cardiff City left back Declan John becoming their final signing of the window on deadline day, penning a season-long loan deal at Ibrox.
However, Rangers fans were left a little disappointed as the transfer deadline passed, as the Gers failed to tie up a deal for long-term target Jamie Walker, who will be staying at Hearts.
As reported by BBC Sport back in June, Rangers failed with two bids for Walker, having failed to match Hearts’ £1million valuation for the wide man, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Now, The Scottish Sun report that Walker is expected to sign a pre-contract agreement with Rangers in January, as he will be in the final six months of his deal and able to sign a contract with the Gers, which will come into effect next summer.
The report claims that Rangers wanted to sign Walker on deadline day, but they rejected Hearts’ attempts to have Danny Wilson, Jason Holt and Joe Dodoo included in the deal, and again refused to pat the £1million asking price.
Rangers now look set to sign Walker on a free transfer, but will have to wait until the start of next season to have him available, which isn’t ideal for manager Pedro Caixinha, who may feel that Barrie McKay hasn’t really been replaced since his move to Nottingham Forest.
Walker, 24, hit 15 goals in all competitions and has emerged as one of the top talents in Scottish football, meaning it’s something of a surprise that Hearts are willing to let him leave for nothing next summer, but the wide man is refusing to sign a new deal – and looks set for Ibrox in 2018.
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