Why Signing Hearts’ Jamie Walker Would Complete A Brilliant Summer For Rangers
The fact that Jamie Walker is even in the Hearts squad for their game against Kilmarnock has made the news in Scotland. So much is the focus surrounding a possible move for the winger to Rangers.
Their interest in him is long standing and they have already signed numerous players from Gorgie in recent years. So another jump from Edinburgh to Glasgow now would come as no surprise whatsoever. Hearts’ previous stance was to say that Walker was not for sale, but things are changing rapidly now and not just in the shape of their new stand being built.
Ian Cathro has now left the Edinburgh club as manager and this may now pave the way for Walker to join Rangers. The former boss had accused Walker of losing his focus given the transfer rumours but now that he is out of the way following a couple of poor cup performances, the move could be back on.
Hearts, like most sides these days, could do with the money and so any reasonable bid from Rangers could be met positively in the closing days of the window for a player who the Bears could really use following the sale of Barrie McKay to Nottingham Forest.
Walker has proven himself in this league and even performed well in a friendly against Premier League side Newcastle United recently and is still expected to be a Rangers player come the first week of September.
Pedro Caixinha’s summer recruitment has been impressive, not just because of the increase in quality brought to the squad but also because of its mix. Some excellent Portuguese talent has arrived which is, of course, no surprise given the manager’s background, though the likes of Ryan Jack and Graham Dorrans could yet prove so crucial to the club over the next year or so.
Jonny Hayes’ move to Celtic, Jack’s move to Rangers and now the potential transfer of Jamie Walker shows that the old order is returning and that the Old Firm are once again considered to be the only place for an ambitious Scottish-based player to be in.
The fact that these players are jumping ship now from the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts is no surprise and so not only would a deal for Walker help to slightly increase the quality at Rangers, it also decreases the quality at yet another rival, which is more important than what people may think.