Ryan Stevenson expects his former Hearts team-mate Jamie Walker to be the centre of attention if he joins Rangers this summer.
Rangers have been in hot pursuit of the electric 23-year-old winger in the last couple of weeks, as manager Pedro Caixinha’s summer recruitment plan takes full flight.
The Edinburgh Evening News have claimed that the Scottish club have tabled a fresh £600,000 bid for the Hearts star, having seen an initial bid worth £500,000 rebuffed by their rivals.
However, it was further reported that Rangers’ latest bid was also considered well short of their valuation of the player, with Hearts manager Ian Cathro after at least £1million for his services.
Rangers are likely to continue their discussions with Hearts over a potential deal, and should the move go ahead, Stevenson believes Walker will relish the big occasion at Ibrox.
He told the Evening Times: “Jamie always had a bit about him. At Rangers you’ve got to enjoy that [being the centre of attention], so I don’t see playing at Ibrox fazing him.
“Being the boy he is, he enjoys that kind of thing. He has played there before and Rangers are obviously a massive club in the world but knowing the way Jamie is he will use that as a positive not a negative.
“If he does go there I am sure he will do very well. Any team he goes into he will improve. And if he goes and plays with better players then he will improve as well.”
Walker was in red hot form for Hearts during the 2016-17 season, where he contributed 15 goals and seven assists from 43 appearances in all competitions as the club finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
But he has already informed the club that has does not intend to renew his current deal at Tynecastle, which has one year left to run, and that has forced the club to reluctantly listen to offers this summer.
Rangers remain the most keen on ending his stay with Hearts, but they must significantly improve their offer if they are to stand any chance of winning the race for is signature.