There’s an awkward dynamic in football when a manager publicly praises a player everyone knows another club wants. Derek McInnes finds himself in exactly that position, talking up Cammy Devlin’s qualities while Rangers reportedly lurk in the background with interest in the Hearts midfielder.

The Devlin factor at Tynecastle

Devlin has established himself as a central figure in Hearts’ midfield. His contributions ahead of critical matches against Rangers in May 2026 underscored just how important he is to McInnes’s system.

“Consistently brilliant.”

That was McInnes’s assessment of Devlin in December 2025. When rumors of Rangers’ interest first surfaced back in October 2025, the Hearts boss moved quickly to reassure supporters that Devlin remained committed to the club.

The Rangers connection gets more complicated

As of June 2026, McInnes himself has emerged as a leading candidate for the Rangers managerial position following Danny Rohl’s tenure at Ibrox.

If McInnes were to take the Rangers job, the Devlin situation transforms entirely. Instead of fending off interest from a rival club, McInnes would become the person driving the recruitment. He already knows exactly what Devlin brings, having spent an entire season watching him up close and building a team around his qualities.

Devlin’s contract situation adds another layer to this. The midfielder’s future at Hearts remains a point of discussion as he reportedly weighs his options through June 2026.