Hearts ace Don Cowie has admitted he is surprised Rangers are the only club after his team mate Jamie Walker.
The Scottish Sun reported on Friday that the Gers were ready to table a fourth bid for the 24-year-old winger in an attempt to prise him away from Tynecastle.
However, it was said Hearts have slapped a £1million price tag on the one-time Under-21 international, and are determined to hold onto him.
The Scottish Sun then claimed on Sunday that Hearts manager Ian Cathro was ready to offer Walker a contract which would make him the club’s highest paid player in a bid to ward off interest from the Ibrox club.
Where Walker ends up come the end of the summer remains to be seen, but the speculation has clearly reached the dressing room as Cowie spoke glowingly of his team mate in an interview with the Scottish Sun.
“It’s surprising only one team seems to want him. Against Newcastle he proved he has the X-Factor,” he said.
“When you train with him, it’s an eye-opener. You see the end product, the goals, the technique. There aren’t many players like him.
“If he really wants it then anything can happen in his career — whether that is moving to a bigger club or international honours.”
Cowie’s comments came after Hearts’ 2-1 friendly defeat to Newcastle on Friday night, in which Walker shone as Gers manager Pedro Caixinha watched on.
The 24-year-old was one of the Jambos’ top performers last term, scoring 15 goals in 43 league and cup games, as well as supplying seven assists.
The Scotsman made the step up into Hearts’ senior squad in the summer of 2012, and he has since amassed 162 appearances in all competitions for the club, which have yielded 39 goals and 34 assists.