The long-term injury suffered by Hearts defender Christophe Berra could move Rangers’ pursuit of Kyle Lafferty closer to a resolution, according to the Scotsman.
They report that Hearts will not budge on their valuation of £750,000 for Lafferty – and the inclusion of Lee Wallace in the deal will not sway them – but also that both clubs now see the benefit of a deal going through in this window.
The report says that is partly because the injury suffered by Scottish international Berra means that Hearts could do with the cash as quickly as possible in order to go out and secure a replacement.
Because Lafferty only has one year left on his current deal, the alternative would appear to be that he signs a pre-contract agreement with another club in January.
That would benefit neither Hearts nor Rangers; Hearts would miss out on the money for a key asset and the ability to spend on a replacement for Berra and Rangers would have to wait to get their man and would surely face increased competition if he was going for free.
The report also says that Gerrard is acutely aware that his chances of finding a striker who knows what it takes to score goals in Scotland and carry the expectation of playing for Rangers at a price less than £750,000 are very slim.
That is apparently why he has ordered his board to reopen talks with Hearts for Lafferty – and Berra’s misfortune could increase Gerrard’s chances of finally getting his man.