Four Scottish Premiership sides are interested in signing the Glasgow Rangers forward, but could they be about to allow him to join a rival?
A report in the Daily Record has suggested that Rangers are now weighing up whether to give the green light to a deal that would see Michael O’Halloran leave Ibrox to join Hearts on loan.
The Record reports that Hearts are one of four Scottish Premiership clubs interested in signing the 26-year-old on a temporary basis, along with Motherwell, Ross County and O’Halloran’s former club St Johnstone.
Rangers’ Michael O’Halloran
While a move to Tynecastle may appear to be the option that makes little sense from Mark Warburton’s view – Hearts are one of Rangers’ main rivals for second place in the top flight this term – the Record suggests that the Gers hierarchy are ready to consider a deal.
According to the Record, Hearts are willing to pay more than £2,000 a week of O’Halloran’s wages, and the player himself is reportedly keen to join Ian Cathro’s side.
If Warbuton is confident that the eight-point gap between his side and Hearts is large enough that they are not in the race for second, then it would perhaps make perfect sense to sanction a deal.
O’Halloran is a talented player, but has not been given the opportunities regularly enough that would allow him to prove why the Light Blues signed him in the first place.
A run in the Hearts team would not only see him play amongst better players than if he was to join any of the other three clubs chasing his signature, but Rangers may be hoping that he can also make an impact in the big games and perhaps ensure that points are taken off the other teams around them in the table.
But if Warburton is concerned that the race for second still includes Hearts, then it is perhaps a much larger gamble to allow the forward to make such a switch.
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