Jamie Walker has hailed Rangers as a “massive club” and admitted he was close to joining them in the summer window.
The Hearts attacking midfielder has admitted for the first time that he was open to an Ibrox move and that a deal could have gone through even on deadline day.
But Rangers would not meet the asking price for the 24-year-old and his future remains up in the air.
Walker has revealed that he could still join the Glasgow giants in the January window but stressed he will consider alternative options as he runs down his contract that expires next summer.
In an interview with Sunday Mail Sport, the former Scotland Under-21 international explained what the future could hold.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, Rangers are a massive club and of course, it was on my mind,” Walker said, as quoted on the Daily Record website.
“On the last day of the window, I wasn’t sitting expecting it to happen. I knew Rangers were possibly going to come back in.
“But if they really wanted me I think they’d have put down the money.
“It’s a massive club and if it doesn’t happen, I can still go on to bigger and better things.
“Rangers aren’t the be-all and end-all. It’s up to me to show what I can do and maybe get something better.
“In January I might have a few offers. I’ll be a free agent and if I’m playing well enough, there might be a decision to be made.”
OPINION
Walker’s version of events of one of the summer’s longest transfer sagas in Scotland is fascinating. Clearly, the player who scored 15 goals and supplied seven assists in 2016-17 is miffed that Rangers would not shell out the reported £600,000 asking price for his signature. Given the sums spent on Carlos Pena, Graham Dorrans and Alfredo Morelos, Pedro Caixinha might have exhausted his transfer budget. But Walker would be a smart addition to the side and Rangers must make another swoop in January and get the deal done for what should be a bargain price.