Hearts forward Kyle Lafferty has not handed in a transfer request amid major interest from Rangers, according to the Edinburgh Evening News.
The newspaper claims online that Lafferty, 30, has held talks with Hearts owner Ann Budge and manager Craig Levein about his future at Tynecastle following a rejected bid by Rangers last week that was worth £200,000.
It is understood that the Northern Ireland international’s relationship with the Edinburgh club has not suffered due to their refusal to allow him to return to Rangers, who he left in 2012 in the aftermath of their financial meltdown.
OPINION
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has appeared to be unimpressed with his attacking options after a couple of low-scoring encounters in the Europa League qualifiers and has turned his attention towards re-signing Lafferty. The former Norwich striker demanded to be made a free agent in 2012 as he did not want his contract transferred to the new company after the Gers’ liquidation and that could cause some unrest among some supporters. However Lafferty would clearly be a quality signing for Gerrard ahead of the Scottish Premiership season kicks off and what has happened in the past should be forgotten about. The 30-year-old score more goals against Celtic last season than Rangers did as a whole and if they want to catch up with their Old Firm rivals, they need proven Scottish Premiership players in their squad. They must up their bid though because £200,000 would not even get one of Lafferty’s legs.