One-time Rangers target Jamie Walker is set to return to Hearts after failing to make the grade at Wigan.
The tricky winger was a target for Rangers back in the summer of 2017 as Pedro Caixinha planned an assault on the Scottish Premiership.
But, true to form, our league rivals (this time Hearts) refused to sell to us. And it’s had a massive impact on the player’s career.
Jamie Walker has now rejoined Hearts after a largely unsuccessful 18 months down south.
The 26-year-old Hearts winger was farmed out on loan to Peterborough last season and only played 18 games for the League One club, scoring twice.
Walker only made eight appearances in total for Wigan Athletic.
Whilst there’s an argument that Walker’s low-key spell in England proves he isn’t actually good enough for Rangers, Walker originally only had his heart set on one destination.
A boyhood Rangers fan, Walker wanted the move to Ibrox.
Many Scottish players struggle to settle down south and perform better up in Scotland too.
After seeing his career stall for two seasons, you can bet he won’t be recommending a move to England to fellow professionals any time soon. The same can be said of Greg Stewart.
Now, Walker heads back to Hearts and the club that refused to do business over his future with Rangers.
We’ve seen it plenty of times. Hibs did it with Scott Allan (
Killie did it with Jordan Jones (who was eventually exiled from the Killie playing squad for signing on at Ibrox). His move even enraged Kilmarnock supporters.
But these clubs and fans need to ask themselves one thing:
Is getting one over on Rangers really worth taking years out of these player’s careers?
