CRAIG LEVEIN has revealed he’s bracing himself for more transfer window ‘nonsense’ from Rangers over Hearts striker Kyle Lafferty. A year ago the brassed-off Jambos hierarchy rejected multiple bids from the Light Blues for winger Jamie Walker before the signing deadline eventually passed. Levein has his say on Ranges pursuit of LaffertyKenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Now Steven Gerrard wants an Ibrox return for frontman Lafferty, with a £200,000 bid thrown out during the week and a second offer expected to be tabled imminently. And Hearts boss Levein is dreading the idea of another August saga involving Gers for one of his key players. Lafferty was benched for the 5-0 home win over Caley Thistle which clinched a Betfred Cup last 16 place – with Levein believing he’d been unsettled by the Gers interest. The Hearts gaffer said: “We had an offer from Rangers, which is not what we are looking for and we just get on with things. “Players are always for sale but certainly not at that price. “We’ve spoken to Kyle and his head has been turned a little bit. “But, to his credit, he has been very professional and I was pleased with his performance when he went on. “Nothing has changed. Rangers made an offer, we said: ‘No, thank you.’ That’s it. I’m not going to use any adjectives to describe the offer apart from ‘disappointing’. Lafferty climbed off the bench in Hearts’ 5-0 win over InvernessKenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow “As much as Kyle says it’s not having an effect, I think it probably has. “I had a long chat with Kyle on Saturday and Sunday about his responsibilities as a professional. “He tried like a bear when he came on and he was focused.” A sarcastic Levein added: “The good thing is we only have another month of this nonsense. “I’ve no idea if there will be another offer. “We had the same dealings with Rangers over Jamie Walker and it was a bit ‘meh’. I kind of expect the same thing again. “It will only last until the end of August.” Hearts had a similar transfer saga last summer with Gers over WalkerPA:Press Association Challenged if he’d directly quizzed Lafferty – a year to go of his contract – if he wanted to stay or go the Jambos boss said: “I didn’t actually ask him that. “He is one of the best players in our team and I want him round about it. “As far as I’m concerned, him and I are fine and I don’t have any issues at all.” Levein, meanwhile, praised two-goal Uche Ikpeazu for his destruction of Championship Caley Thistle as they sealed a knockout tie at Dunfermline next month. But he warned the giant Englishman he’s still got to show he has it against top flight opposition with the Premiership opener against Hamilton next weekend. Levein said: “He had a good game on Wednesday against Cowdenbeath and a good game again today. “But it’s two teams not in the Premiership. He still has it to prove.” ‘IN A RUSH’ Steven Gerrard wants TWO signings before Aberdeen clash as he quizzed on Kyle Lafferty Caley Thistle boss John Robertson, meanwhile, refused to blast SPFL chiefs for not kicking out his former club for fielding an ineligible player, Andy Irving, in their section win over Cove or even deducting the full three points. Instead Hearts were hit with a two point deduction and a fine which kept their qualification hopes alive. Gerrard wants LaffertyGetty Images - Getty The Highlanders had won their three previous ties – but the margin of defeat put them out on goal difference with Partick Thistle edging them out as a best runner-up from Group E. Robbo, though, expects someone within the SPFL board to justify their points decision. related stories DON’T GO Hearts star Steven Naismith has his say on Kyle Lafferty to Rangers No cheap deal Levein says Lafferty’s ‘head has been turned’ as he refuses to rule out exit STAY PUT Chris Sutton says Kyle Lafferty would be an 'underwhelming’ signing for Rangers LAFF RESTED Levein says it will do Gers target Lafferty 'some good’ to sit out Caley game HEARTS 5 INVERNESS 0 Hearts net three goals in four minutes to land unseeded last 16 spot COUGH IT UP Hearts tell Rangers to pay 'close to £1m’ for Kyle Lafferty He said: “It’s a very easy excuse to make but we are not out of the cup because of an SPFL decision. “We are out of the cup because we could not defend properly. “We don’t have the written reasons why they made that decision. “And until we have the written reasons it’s pretty hard to decide whether it’s a bitter pill to swallow or not. “Should Hearts have been docked three points? Potentially but it’s not my decision. I’m not getting involved.” “I would like to think the SPFL will send all the teams in our group the reason they came to the decision.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news, transfers and goals from Scottish football plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Source: Scottish Sun, News
Source: Scottish Sun, News
