Rangers and Celtic dodged a bullet over reported interest in 25-year-old

By Lee Clarke

During the summer Celtic and Rangers were both reportedly keen to try and add Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu to their ranks.

According to the Scottish Sun, the uncompromising frontman was linked with a move to one of the Glaswegian giants.

The 25-year-old was being sounded out and the Old Firm duo were thought to be battling several Championship clubs.

Despite Hearts wanting just £1 million for his services, a concrete offer wasn’t forthcoming and he stayed at Tynecastle.

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Fast forward nearly a year and the transfer decision made by Celtic and Rangers looks like a bullet firmly dodged.

Hearts are currently bottom of the Scottish Premiership and face the embarrassment of relegation to the second tier.

Ikpeazu has fallen out of favour under boss Daniel Stendel and Hearts now want rid.

A report by the Daily Record has claimed he is on the scrapheap with the Edinburgh-based club keen to move him on.

The former Cambridge United striker hasn’t scored since September, bagging just twice all season.

There isn’t even a case to suggest he’s been contributing elsewhere. Ikpeazu has just four assists this season to his name too.

Had he signed for Rangers or Celtic it seems almost certain that he would have been back up and last season looks like a flash in the pan.

During 2018/19 he bagged eight goals but displayed the sort of muscle in the final third that might have alerted the Glasgow giants.

Regret

Ikpeazu has a contract with Hearts until 2022 but given his popularity with Stendel or lack of it, he could be sold in the summer.

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

It seems desperately unlikely that Steven Gerrard and Neil Lennon will be fighting each other for his signature now.

Ikpeazu must head somewhere and revive his career and he must look back on the Rangers and Celtic links with some regret.

For the clubs, however, Ikpeazu is a deal they will be glad to have missed out on.