Ferguson urges Rangers to break the bank for this 24-year-old if they are serious about challenging Celtic
By Matt Bullin
Derek Ferguson has urged Rangers to stump up the funds to sign Hearts star Jamie Walker if they are serious about challenging Celtic next season.
The former Rangers and Hearts ace has also admitted he is surprised that clubs in England are not interested in signing the 24-year-old winger this summer.
Ferguson’s comments come after the Scottish Sun reported last week that the Gers were ready to table a fourth bid for Walker, who is valued at £1million by his club.
It was said that the 24-year-old is keen on an Ibrox move, and that Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha personally scouted him in Hearts friendly defeat to Newcastle last Friday.
Ferguson hailed Walker for his quality in an interview with the Daily Record, and urged the Glasgow giants to pay the £1million for him.
“Jamie is a quality player and Rangers definitely need more quality in that area. If they want him then they will have to pay Hearts the asking price,” he said.
“I don’t think Hearts are asking for too much – £1million is not a lot of money to pay for a top talent like Walker.
“If Rangers are serious about laying a marker down and offering any kind of title challenge to Celtic this season then they are going to have to stump up the cash.
“I am actually surprised more clubs down in England are not looking at Walker.”
Walker was one of the Jambos’ top performers last term, scoring 15 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions for the club, as well as providing seven assists.
He broke into the first team at Tynecastle in the summer of 2012 and he has since played 163 league and cup games for the club, which have yielded 39 goals and 34 assists.
The 24-year-old is primarily a left-winger, but he is also comfortable on the right-flank and in a central attacking midfield role.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton took another dig at the Gers on Wednesday evening.
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