World Cup star Kye Rowles won’t be leaving Hearts for anything other than “mind-boggling” money according to Tynecastle supremo Andrew McKinlay.
The chief executive has warned interested clubs that bids for the Aussie ace WON’T be welcomed as he accused English football of “taking the mickey” out of clubs north of the border with their transfer valuations.
McKinlay hinted anything under £5m would be laughed out of Gorgie but refused to put a price tag on the player who arrived on a three-year deal in June.
Rowles was a rock beside Harry Souttar at the heart of the Socceroos side that stormed to the last 16 in Qatar.
The summer signing from Central Coast Mariners has only played 10 times for the Jambos after picking up a foot injury in August.
But the 24-year-old signed a three-year deal and returned to action in time to take his place in Graham Arnold’s squad and was a key player as they beat Canada and Denmark.
That has seen his stock soar ahead of the January transfer window.
But McKinlay, speaking after the Hearts AGM at Tynecastle yesterday, wants to see Rowles become a Jambos legend before moving on.
He said: “I couldn’t put a number on it. I am not encouraging it at all.
“But it would be a mind-boggling offer that would even make us think it was something we would consider.
“I’m not even sure he has played 10 games for us. He was injured.
“What a great signing, he has been brilliant.
“I would much rather Kye stayed here, made himself a Hearts legend and then we sell him on and make Hearts money.
“I don’t want to put a number on it because that’s the bid that will come in. But he’s worth a lot of money in my opinion.
“We’ve had no approaches and we don’t welcome any approaches for any of our players.
“We budgeted for no player sales this year. We are genuinely not in a situation where we have to sell anyone. Anyone who does leave this club would have to be on our terms.
“Any decision we ever make on someone leaving would balance the on field with the financial.
“It’s all very well selling a World Cup centre back but then you have to replace him with another World Cup centre back if you want to be as good.”
McKinlay reckons it’s time Scottish football got tough on transfer fees with clubs from outwith the country and particularly south of the border.
Outside the Old Firm he reckons clubs are being ridiculed and losing top players for a fraction of their true worth.
He said: “I genuinely still think Scottish football gets the mickey taken out us, by England in particular.
“Five million quid for them is like a punt. We should turn round and say ‘no, no, no, these are tiny…’
“You look at the players who have left Scotland. Other than Kieran Tierney - and Celtic have had a few others leave for decent money and I suppose Rangers have had Calvin Bassey - but it’s always been Rangers and Celtic.
“Aberdeen have done quite well recently with a couple who have been sold but you are still in the sub-five million bracket.
“I genuinely think we should be getting a lot more money, not just us but other clubs. We should be much stronger when and if we do sell players.”
