Rangers swoop in for free agent after 'failed' new deal talks at rivals as Derek McInnes pursues familiar face
Rangers are ‘interested’ in another Jambo
Rangers have expressed an interest in free agent midfielder Cammy Devlin only hours after it was announced that he will not be returning to Hearts.
The 28-year old has been on World Cup duty with Australia and was in turn given extra time to make a decision on his future. However, Hearts have now confirmed the player has missed the deadline to respond to a new deal that was tabled as he now becomes a free agent. Devlin spent five seasons in Gorgie, where he became a fan favourite as an enforcer in the middle of the park.
If Rangers were to agree a deal for Devlin, he would reunite with former mentor Derek McInnes and ex teammate Lawrence Shankland, who’ve both recently crossed the M8 from Tynecastle to Ibrox. The trio were instrumental in the Jambos title charge last season, when they narrowly lost out to Celtic on the final day by two points.
Rangers ‘interested’ in free agent Devlin
According to Sky Sports: “Rangers are interested in a move for Cammy Devlin, Sky Sports News understands. The midfielder, 28, impressed under Derek McInnes at Tynecastle Park. However, his five-year stay at the Edinburgh club is over after he failed to agree a new deal. Lawrence Shankland left Hearts and joined McInnes at Ibrox, and Australian international Devlin could now follow.”
While captain was the one with the armband last season at Tynecastle, the experienced Devlin was very much second in command on the pitch. As another midfielder with leadership qualities, he fits the bill of a McInnes-type player. With current Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin edging closer to the Ibrox exit door, the Rangers boss is looking for reinforcements in this area. Along with Devlin, the club have also entered talks with Lewis Ferguson, Vanja Dragojevic and Jens Hjerto-Dahl.
Why did Devlin leave Hearts?
A Hearts statement read: “Heart of Midlothian can confirm that Cammy Devlin will not be returning to the club. Cammy was given a deadline by the club to commit to taking up the offer of a new deal, which he has failed to meet, and therefore leaves under freedom of contract. Cammy joined Hearts in August 2021 and would go on to make 176 appearances in maroon, scoring eight goals. The club thanks Cammy for his time at Tynecastle Park.”
Devlin himself said of his future at the start of Australia’s World Cup campaign: “It’s hard, because I know I’ve got a massive decision to make. Being in the pre‑camp, first and foremost, I just wanted to put my head down, work as hard as I could to put my name in the coach’s mind.
“You don’t really want any distractions; you just want to focus on this and do as well as I can for my country. Hearts is such an amazing place. I feel so at home there, so it’s something that I actually don’t know at the moment. I’ve got a World Cup to focus on, so that’s my main priority.”